COMHALTAS PERTH
Comhaltas Perth, Sean Doherty Branch 40-year anniversary BICKLEY CAMP OPEN DAY It was a beautiful and sunny weekend spent at the Bickley Recreation camp as part of Comhaltas’ 40-year anniversary celebrations and a great way to close out 2021. The sun was shining and the tunes were flowing all weekend. Friday evening kicked off the anniversary celebrations with a session in the main Bickely hall. Saturday morning started with a series of group workshops in Irish language (Bridie Higgins), dance (Torc Ceili, Tom Tallon and Anthony Ward), fiddle (Sean Doherty and Ciara Sudlow), whistle (Dympna Finch and Scott Hannah), uilleann pipes (Brendan Doherty), button accordion (Ronan Collins), bodhran (David Johnston) and song (Ciaran O’Sullivan). All the workshops were greatly attended and we would like to say a special thanks to all the tutors who facilitated the workshops on the day and to those who attended. Throughout the weekend a collection of photographs was presented in the main hall and on video reel of the large screens. The photos documented the 40 years of Perth Comhaltas ‘Sean Doherty Branch’, from 1 December 1980 to the present day. Comhaltas received a wonderful message and a set of tunes (via video) from Comhaltas Paddy Killoran, Ballymote, County Sligo, ‘Long may the music, singing and dancing continue in the ‘West’. Comhaltas also received a lovely message and a set of tunes from Paddy Tunney and friends in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal (Letterkenny Comhaltas). It was a wonderful contribution to the weekend’s celebrations. Thank you everyone at CCE Ballymote and Letterkenny. The workshops concluded late in the afternoon and this was followed by a few words of thanks from our CCE Perth chair Brendan Doherty. As the sun was setting, the preparation of evening supper was in full swing. We could smell the roast while the tunes were flowing 70 | THE IRISH SCENE
outside in the evening sun. Once dinner was settled, it was all systems go for the evening session in a packed main hall. A special thank you to all the Comhaltas team for preparing a lovely evening meal and to those to assisted in making the weekend possible. Thank you also to everyone who attended and to the team at Bickley camp for making the weekend the special weekend that it was. We look forward to returning to the camp again this year (further details below).
PAST COMHALTAS STUDENT – CIARAN SUDLOW Comhaltas Perth would like to wish Ciara Sudlow, one of Sean’s past students, the very best of luck for the future as she travels to London to pursue to her master’s at the Royal Academy of Music on baroque violin. Before Ciara sets off, she will be presenting two concerts on Sunday 6 March, 2pm at The Orangey Gallery (Shenton Park) and Thursday 6 March, 6.30pm at Kidogo Arthouse (Fremantle) to raise funds for her study project. The concert series is titled ‘Treasures of the Italian Baroque’ and promises to be a wonderful evening of classical music. Tickets are on sale at the following Try Booking links: The Orangey Gallery
trybooking.com/BXNWQ Kidogo Arthouse
http://itbaroque.eventbrite.com.au Wishing you all the best for your future studies Ciara and safe travels from everyone at Comhaltas.
