Portglenone CCE 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Portglenone CCE Celebrate their 50th Anniversary.
Portglenone CCE was established back in 1973 by a group of devoted Irish Traditional music lovers. Under the guidance of Ann and Colm O'Brien, Matt Mc Ateer, Edith Reid, Joe Clarke, Willis Patton, and Brian Quinn, the first ever AGM meeting was held in the Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone, and to this day, this remains the venue for our AGM and Branch meetings.
Picture 1 - First Meeting of Portglenone CCE
Over the last 50 years, the Portglenone branch has matured and blossomed with almost 100 children and adults receiving weekly tuition in instrumental music and song on Monday evenings or participating in our Wednesday evening junior sessions.
To celebrate this massive achievement, The Portglenone CCE Branch hosted a range of special events over the weekend of 27th - 29th October 2023.
First up was a Traditional Singing Workshop, with Mairead Walls, on Friday 27th October in The Bank Building followed by a magnificent singing session which lasted till late. Then on Saturday 28th October, the Irish Traditional Music Workshops in Fiddle, Tin Whistle, Flute, Accordion and Concertina took place in The Bank Building, led by members of The Blackwater Céilí Band.
Picture 2 - Singing Workshop with Mairead Walls
The highlight of the Weekend was the Blackwater Céilí Band in Concert at The Riverside Suite in The Wild Duck Inn. The Portglenone CCE Group opened the concert with a fantastic arrangement of tunes, dance, and song. After the break, The Blackwater Céilí Band were piped to the stage by the local McNeillstown Pipe Bands very own renowned piper, James Andrews, nephew of our Portglenone CCE founding member, Edith Reid (née Andrews). The Blackwater Céilí Band were also joined on stage with Mairead Walls, a few local guests and some of our very own founding members of the Branch all those years ago to receive their Gradam Awards in recognition of their contribution to Comhaltas 50 Years ago. Edith Reid, who was the first Secretary of our Branch, and fellow committee member, Joe Clarke, were both presented by the President of Comhaltas, Éamonn Ó hArgáin, with their Gradam Certificates and medals on stage to a very appreciative audience.
Picture 3 - The Blackwater Céilí Band
Picture 4 - Portglenone CCE Group
Picture 5 - Mairead Walls Singing with The Blackwater Céilí Band
Picture 6 - Edith Reid receives her Gradam Award
This was followed by the presentation of the Gradam Na nÓg Awards made to our junior members, Ava and Erin McAleese and Kate Donnelly, for their service and dedication to our CCE Branch since Covid restrictions were lifted and since we started rebuilding the classes and junior sessions in these strange new times. These junior members took time out each week to help our younger members, in the age range of 6 - 10 years, with the fiddle and tin whistle. This is all done voluntarily, and the Branch wanted to acknowledge these junior members for their service.
Picture 7 - Ava McAleese receives her Gradam Na nÓg Award
Picture 8 - Erin McAleese receives her Gradam Na nÓg Award
Picture 9 - Kate Donnelly receives her Gradam Na nÓg
We also recognised Geraldine Donnelly who stepped down as Branch Treasurer after 30 years of service to our CCE Branch. Many thanks Geraldine!
Picture 10 - Geraldine Donnelly - Our Treasurer Retires after 30 Years of dutiful service.
The Blackwater Céilí Band then continued their set and concluded a magical night to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. The session that followed was significant as so many of the audience stayed and either pulled out their instruments and joined in or they sat back and enjoyed a few more hours of music and craic.
Celebrations continued on Sunday 29th October with the All-County Session in The Wild Duck Inn to complete the fabulous weekend of festivities with many musicians from near and far which lasted to the wee small hours.
We now also look forward to hosting the 2024 County Antrim Fleadh as a continued part of our Portglenone CCE 50th Anniversary celebrations. County Antrim Fleadh will run from 19th – 21st April 2024 with many events and competitions in and around the Portglenone village area.
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Co. Antrim Fleadh 2024
Portglenone CCE
Programme of Events
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Monday 15th April – The Bank Building
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Junior Singing Session
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6.30 – 7.15pm
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Townlands of Portglenone – Historical Talk
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7.30 – 8.30pm
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Tuesday 16th April - The Men’s Shed
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The Calm Kit (Mindfulness Session)
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6.30 – 7.30pm
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ALPS Talk (All Lives Are Precious)
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7.30 – 8.30pm
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Wednesday 17th April – The Mallard Suite @ The Wild Duck Inn
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Junior Traditional Music Session
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7.00pm – 8.00pm
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Trá na gCeisteanna (Table Quiz)
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8.15pm
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Thursday 18th April – The Mallard Suite @ The Wild Duck Inn
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Céilí – Music by The Dunloy Céilí Band
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8.00pm
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Caller – Diarmuid Ó Bhruadáir
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Friday 19th April – The Riverside Suite @ The Wild Duck Inn
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Fleadh Concert
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7.30pm
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Portglenone CCE Group &
Déanta
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Saturday 20th April
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Fleadh Competitions (St Mary’s Primary School)
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10.00am Start
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Mass – St. Mary’s Chapel
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6.00pm
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The Men’s Shed open for Sessions
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7.00pm
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Senior Singing Session (The Bank Building)
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8.00pm
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Sunday 21st April
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Fleadh Competitions The Riverside Suite @ The Wild Duck Inn
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12.00pm Start
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Street Sessions – Local CCE Branches
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3.00pm Start
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Slow Session (The Men’s Shed)
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5.00pm
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Street sessions throughout the village all weekend.
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See you all there!