Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Irish pronunciation: [ˈkoːl̪ˠt̪ˠəsˠ ˈcoːl̪ˠt̪ˠoːɾʲiː ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ]; meaning "Society of the musicians of Ireland") is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland.

it has more than 400 branches worldwide, in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

Comhaltas was founded in 1951 in Mullingar, County Westmeath by a group of traditional pipers who felt that the Irish musical tradition was in decline[citation needed]; it was initially named Cumann Ceoltóirí na hÉireann, changing to its present name in 1952.

[2] Comhaltas is responsible for organising the annual national Irish music festival and competition called the Fleadh Cheoil.

Comhaltas has published a magazine called Treoir relating to Irish traditional music since 1970.

Opening of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008 in Tullamore
Áras an Mhuilinn, one of the Comhaltas centres in Ireland. Comhaltas was established in Mullingar in 1951.