COMHALTAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Development Program for the Irish Traditional Arts. 

In August 2004 Comhaltas launched the Development Program for the Irish Traditional Arts at Fleádh Cheóil na hÉireann in Clonmel County Tipperary.  The program, which has become known as the five-year plan, is an exciting and visionary document that deals with the following areas on Comhaltas and our Traditional Arts.  1.   Facing new challenges.  2.   Five-year development program.  3.   Engaging the whole community.  4.   Traditional Arts in Education.  5.   Strengthening Comhaltas services.  6.  Regional development teams. 

The document is a series of wide ranging ideas, proposals and plans, which prepares Comhaltas for the future.  In Britain our tasks are defined as follows;

• Developing Culra and Culra na nÓg.
• Seeking national and local public funding and exploring new commercial funding opportunities.
• Heightening awareness of local authorities and state arts bodies of the value of the traditional arts to Irish communities in Britain and of Comhaltas itself.
• Providing full – time administrative support to the organisation.
• Developing an indigenous corps of teachers to serve all branches in Britain.

None of the proposals for Comhaltas in Britain are new.  However, it does help our organisation to focus on our needs when they are set out in an objective way.  We have for over 20 years been involved in promoting a structured program of active experiential learning in Irish culture and history via the Culra Program.  Comhaltas is indeed indebted to John Ferguson, Joe Shearan, Christine Byrne and all Culra helpers for the success of this program.  The opportunity for funded projects via the various national and local schemes is an area to be explored for Comhaltas in Britain to enable the organisation to move forward.  It would be fair to say that Irish communities have been slow to obtain state aid for the many good projects being delivered.  To this end a full time Comhaltas administrator is required if we are to deliver to our full potential. The success of Comhaltas in Britain is not only with all the voluntary workers, but also and very largely due to the teachers of music, song and dance.  These teachers are dedicated to the continuance of the tradition, which they pass on to others (often-younger musicians, singers and dancers), sometimes in a completely voluntary way.  To set up the list and qualifications of teachers would again be a move forward. 

Comhaltas public relations officers at all level of the organisation have a massive task in regards to the five-year plan.  They must now put Comhaltas, the work it does, and its organisation into the public domain.  There should not be a single local council in the country that does not have a file on Comhaltas, and have full knowledge of what the organisation can deliver locally.  Schools should also be in a position to call upon Comhaltas teachers, should they choose to have Irish music, song and dance as part of the curriculum.   Knowledge of Comhaltas should be forwarded to all interested parties and PRO’s should take the lead in this area. 

The five-year Plan is an exciting and challenging document to which he whole Comhaltas membership should pay attention.

Submitted by Vincent Jordan, Chairman Council of Britain.