CCÉ Dhún Dealgan
Na Laetha Luatha The Early Days
I ndiaidh Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann sa Longfort i 1958, bhunaigh baicle as Dún Dealgan de lucht seinnte agus leanúna an cheoil Ghaelaigh CCÉ Dhún Dealgan.
Sna blianta tosaigh, ba iad Rory Kennedy, Brendan Gaughran, John Jo Gardiner, Eamonn de Bhall, Sean Casey, Paddy Mc Gee agus Sean Martin crainn taca ár gcraoibhe.
Ar feadh na mblianta fada, ba ghnáth lenár gcraobh cleachtadh a dhéanamh, seisiúin a sheinm agus, céilithe a reáchtáil in áras Chonradh na Gaeilge, áit ar aistrigh Peadar Ó Dubhda, ceoltóir Gaelach, scoláire agus drámadóir, an Bíobla go Gaeilge.
Faoi theagasc Rory Kennedy & Brendan Gaughran, bhain CCÉ Dhún Dealgan comórtais sinsearacha agus comórtais faoi 18 na mbuíonta ceoil céilí i bhFleadh Cheoil na hÉireann '67, 68 & '69, chomh maith le cuid mhór gradaim aonair, beirte & triúir. Le linn na tréimhse sin, bhuaigh CCÉ Dhún Dealgan gach comórtas buíon céilí i ngach aoisghrúpa, rud nár éirigh le craobh ar bith eile a bhaint amach ag Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann ó shin i leith. Chuir sé seo CCÉ Dhún Dealgan agus Contae Lú go daingean i mbarr a réime, áit a bhfuil sí go fóill. Tá aithne agus meas orainn go forleathan i ngach ciorcal ceoil traidisiúnta ar fud an domhain.
Thaistil an Bhuíon Chéilí Siamsa go Meiriceá i 1972 ar an chéad turas de chuid Comhaltais; ba é seo a chuir tús le hionadaíocht ar son Comhaltais sa bhaile agus thar lear do chuid mhór de cheoltóirí na craoibhe.
Is saintréith de chuid ár gceoil inniu an stíl rithimeach thraidisiúnta dhamhsa sin a d'fhág ár mbunaitheoirí le hoidhreacht againn agus is furasta í a aithint mar cheol de chuid CCE Dhún Dealgan.
Following The All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Longford in 1958, a group of Irish traditional musicians and music enthusiasts from Dundalk formed CCÉ Dhún Dealgan.
In the early years, Rory Kennedy, Brendan Gaughran, John Jo Gardiner, Eamonn de Bhall, Sean Casey, Paddy Mc Gee and Sean Martin were our branch foundations.
For many years our branch practiced, played sessions and held ceilies at the Conragh Na Gaeilge Hall, Seatown, where at that time Irish Musician, Scholar and Playwright Peadar Ó Dubhda translated the Bible to Irish.
Under the teaching of Rory Kennedy & Brendan Gaughran, the Senior Ceili band and u18 ceili band competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann ‘67, ‘68 & ‘69 along with many solo, duet & trio honours came to Dundalk. During this time all Ceili band competitions at all age groups were won by CCÉ Dhun Dealgan, no branch has ever achieved this again at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. This put CCÉ Dhún Dealgan and County Louth firmly at the top where our branch has remained. We are widely known and respected in all traditional music circles around the world.
The Siamsa Ceili Band travelled to America in 1972 on the first Comhaltas tour, this was the start for many of our branch musicians representing Comhaltas at home and internationally.
The traditional rhythmic dancing musical style handed down from our founders, is distinctive in our music today, and is easily recognisable as CCÉ Dhún Dealgan Music.
