Spink Comhaltas

Information

About Spink

Spink Comhaltas is part of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music.  Comhaltas is a non-profit cultural movement with hundreds of local branches around the world and was founded in 1951. Spink Comhaltas was formed in 1983.  We celebrated our Ruby Anniversary in 2023 with the publication of a book setting out the history of the branch.

We teach traditional Irish music on all instruments:

  • tin whistle
  • flute
  • fiddle
  • mandolin
  • banjo
  • concertina
  • accordion
  • uileann pipes
  • harp
  • bodhran
  • céilí band drums

Our students come from all over Laois, as well as from Kilkenny, Carlow and Kildare.

We are governed by the Constitution of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and have an elected voluntary management committee, with a formal Annual General Meeting each October.

All of our teachers and committee are Garda Vetted in accordance with the national Child Protection Guidelines laid down by Comhaltas.

Committee Members

  • Honorary President: Eileen Reilly
  • Chairperson: Una Aylward, Genevieve Bennett
  • Vice-Chairperson: Mairead Gleeson
  • Secretary: Maria Dunne
  • Treasurer: Maeve Hartford
  • PRO: Gillian Martin
  • Irish Officer: Grainne Ní Ailin
  • Youth Officer: Kate Nolan-Gould
  • Auditor: Anne Marie Clooney
  • DLP: Kieran Walsh
  • Instrument Bank & Funding: Marianne Tierney
  • SCT Exams: Linda Donnelly
  • Events: Gillian Martin, Marguerite O’Donovan
  • Web-site: Mick Brady

Other committee members:

  • John Groarke
  • Lawrence Vesey