Founded in 1982 under the auspices of the European institutions, Comhaltas (short for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann) is an organisation geared towards the promotion of Irish culture and support for the Irish Diaspora, “through music, dancing and singing and [further fostering of] the Irish language.”
Alongside their weekly Irish dance classes, they’re also proud to promote their annual St Patrick’s Day Céilí, taking place this 16 March at the Centre Culturel in Hollerich with two separate events: an afternoon dance and get-together for children, and another later in the evening for adults (flyer below). No reservations needed, with drinks and snacks provided at a cash-only bar.
For anyone unfamiliar with the traditional dances of a céilí, they’re happy to report someone will be on hand, cuing with explanations, throughout. They’ve advised all attendees to be ready for a night of steady dancing, so come ready with comfortable shoes and clothing.
Chatting with Melissa, Claire and Catherine explain how best to join Comhaltas in Luxembourg and attest that some of their “most excellent dancers, singers and musicians are Luxembourgish, European, American, British as well as Irish born and the Irish Diaspora.”
They report a few upcoming events to keep Irish culture strumming in Luxembourg: there’s a TRIO concert and possible workshops on 4 May, a summer céilí on 29 June, and a children’s camp across July and August that will include drama, singing, and dance classes.
You can catch them on the first Friday of every month for ‘Sang e Klang’, open to the public with regular music sessions (and occasional dancing). They’re also on the lookout for any bars or venues in the Grand Duchy where the group can “sit in the corner, play a few tunes, sing a few songs and have a casual session.”
Follow Comhaltas Luxembourg and listen to the full interview on Today Radio‘s Melissa Dalton Show here:
