Caitlín Mannion Blog

We’re pleased to introduce Caitlín Mannion, a talented and dedicated member of the North London CCÉ Branch and one of the young musicians involved in our new youth trad orchestra, Ceol Le Chéile. Skilled across a range of instruments – including fiddle, concertina, button accordion, tin whistle, banjo, and piano – Caitlín is not only a passionate performer but also a committed teacher, guiding and inspiring the next generation of traditional musicians.

Outside of Comhaltas, Caitlín is currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Music Production and Sound Engineering at university, with the aim of progressing to a Master’s degree in Music Therapy. She is also active in the wider Irish arts community, working in events and marketing at the Irish Cultural Centre in London, and serving on the Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL) team, which organises the annual Return to London Town Festival.

Her journey with Comhaltas in Britain is a great example of how early exposure to Irish music can grow into a lifelong dedication to both playing and sharing the tradition. Here, Caitlín tells her story in her own words.

How did you find out about Comhaltas? 

I started learning classical music at school when I was 7, and around that time my mum bought me some traditional tune books so I could explore Irish music at home. I had listened to Irish music my whole life and really enjoyed hearing family members play, as well as the music played during Irish dancing. When I was 13, I began lessons with Marian Gill, who introduced me to Comhaltas and the Fleadhs. That’s when I started competing in solo and duet competitions. A year later, I began learning with Karen Ryan and, through her, became involved in the Céilí Band and Grúpa Cheoil competitions as well. I also began attending sessions regularly.

From Student to Teacher

My journey into teaching and volunteering happened almost naturally. I first got involved by helping Karen with some of the younger tin whistle students, preparing them to move into her classes. From there, my role gradually grew. I now teach fiddle, concertina, button accordion, and tin whistle for her, and also help with the Céilí Bands and Grúpa Cheoil groups. I really enjoyed the experience, so I’ve continued developing my teaching skills. I’ve also done some concertina tutoring at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith and have recently started teaching for the East London Comhaltas branch.

What Comhaltas in Britain Means to Me

For me, Comhaltas in Britain has given me a strong sense of community and connection to Irish culture, especially through the music. I have met lots of wonderful musicians who are also passionate about traditional Irish music, and it’s helped me grow both as a musician and as a teacher. Through Comhaltas in Britain, I’ve had opportunities to play with others across the regions, perform, and now pass on the tradition to younger musicians. It’s played a huge role in shaping my musical journey.

A New Adventure with Ceol Le Chéile

Right now, I’m really excited to be part of Comhaltas in Britain’s brand-new youth trad orchestra, Ceol Le Chéile. The aim of the orchestra is to build cross-regional collaboration and communication, while giving young musicians the chance to develop their skills and gain experience as professional performers.

We’re working on a selection of traditional tunes, exploring musicianship and arranging techniques to create a neo-trad suite of music for various performance opportunities. We had our first rehearsal weekend in Dublin at the Cultúrlann na hÉireann, where we played together as an orchestra for the first time. It was an amazing experience working on arrangements by our musical director, Hugh Sheehan, and connecting with other musicians from across Britain.

We’re especially excited for our first official performances at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford - on Thursday 7th August at the International Showcase Concert in the Wexford Opera House (7:30 pm), and Friday 8th August at the Gig Rig in St Iberius Church Car Park (3:50 pm).

It’s such a great opportunity to be part of something new and exciting, and to make music with other young trad musicians from all over Britain.