COMHALTAS CEOLTÓIRÍ Éireann has come under the spotlight of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in a report titled Funding Review of the Development Programme of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The report, writes Siobhán Long, examines the State's funding of the Comhaltas development programme between 2005 and 2009.
Controversy surrounded the decision taken by the Comhaltas ardchomhairle in February 2008 to expel its 400-strong Clontarf branch, known as Craobh Cluain Tarbh, alleging irregularities in relation to a VAT refund in the period when the Clontarf branch was managing the building of the flagship Clasac traditional arts centre on Alfie Byrne Road. Clasac includes a 250-seat auditorium, a recording studio, an archive/library, an intimate performance space and two bars. Comhaltas also alleged that the local branch had amassed a €2 million overspend on its €9 million budget.
In a press statement, Comhaltas welcomed the findings of the report, in particular in relation to its handling of the controversial Clasac centre. Comhaltas highlighted the report’s findings that “the State’s investment was appropriately administered and that programme expenditure was properly incurred and properly controlled” and that “the Comhaltas ardchomhairle has fulfilled its taxation obligations in a full and proper manner in relation to the Comhaltas development programme”. Comhaltas claimed that “it has been totally vindicated in relation to the Clontarf branch issue”.
For its part, Craobh Cluain Tarbh also welcomed the report, and in particular the statement that “it would be in the best interests of the Comhaltas development programme that the members of the dissolved Clontarf branch were actively involved in the usage and development of the Clasac centre”.
However, Craobh Cluain Tarbh claims that, despite the report’s recommendation that a mediator be appointed to bring the feuding sides together, Comhaltas has refused to engage in any mediation, citing its own constitution as a bar to such a process.
In fact, the substance of the report is at variance with Comhaltas HQ’s response, as it states that failure to rebuild bridges with the expelled branch is likely to have serious consequences for Clasac’s future: “It is incumbent on the organisation to ensure that whatever measures are required to resolve it are taken, whether this involves mediation or otherwise.”
Despite plans to develop Clasac as a linchpin in Comhaltas’s network of regional centres, Clasac’s website lists a total of just five concerts in the period from October 2008 to October 2009, so it seems that intervention may be needed if this €9million centre isn’t to become a highly visible white elephant, a bloated bequest of the Celtic Tiger.
- It's theatre, theatre, theatrein Dublin this weekend, with Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival shows in full flow, and lots of additional events to boot, including the Young Critics' Panel (tomorrow at noon at Project), and the International Theatre Exchange networking event (finishing today), involving international promoters and bookers.
Actors, designers, directors, playwrights and producers, including Anne Clarke, Michael Colgan, Ingrid Craigie, Sinéad Cusack, Declan Donnellan, Ciarán Hinds, Jeremy Irons, Fiach Mac Conghail, Patrick Mason, Conor McPherson, Peter O’Brien, David Pugh, Owen Roe, Alan Stanford and Penelope Wilton, this week took part in a two-day symposium for mid-career directors, hosted by the Gate Theatre in association with the festival.
And, meanwhile, the relaunched irishtheatremagazine.ie website went live, with features, news items and full reviews. It hopes to carry theatre listings and a searchable archive next year.
Further afield, Sebastian Barry's The Pride of Parnell Street, which ends tomorrow in New York, was the big winner at 1st Irish, the city's all-Irish theatre festival, winning the awards for best production and best actress (for Mary Murray). Produced by Dublin's Fishamble, The New Play Company, the New York premiere, directed by Jim Culleton, also stars Aidan Kelly.
- This year's Douglas HydeConference has put together a good line-up for Culture and the Economy: Creativity and Innovation in Post-Boom Ireland, to take place in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, on October 15th-18th. The conference asserts that "now, in the current climate, it is vital that we look to culture, creativity and innovation, and better examine the benefits the creative sector bring to our society, and to our economy".
The conference includes speakers from Culture Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council, the Irish Film Institute, Business to Arts and the EU, with key talks by Minister for Arts Martin Cullen, musician Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, economist Finbarr Bradley and EU co-ordinator of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, Roger O’Keeffe.
While creativity is most evident in the arts, say the organisers, in any sphere (technology, environment, education or industry) it is the characteristic essential to the development of new solutions, the quality that allows the next step. See roscommonarts.com/hyde/.
- Auditions for the annual High Achiever Awards start in Sligo today, then move on to Letterkenny, Dublin and Cork. The exhaustive audition process will lead to a number of aspiring musicians and actors performing before an audience of family and friends in a series of regional concerts, followed by a gala concert in the presence of the President, Mary McAleese, on December 10th.
The Permanent TSB High Achiever Awards, which recognise the commitment and professionalism of students who do the Royal Irish Academy of Music’s local-centre exams each year, celebrate their tenth anniversary this year.
Since 1999 some 54 concerts and awards ceremonies, featuring 4,902 music and drama students, have been enjoyed by more than 20,000 audience members. Since the programme began, almost 400,000 people have done the exams, 4,902 of whom have received a High Achiever Award.
At the launch of the awards, two former High Achievers, violinist Patrick Rafter (17), from Kilkenny, and cellist Christopher Ellis (12), from Raheny, performed in the graceful boardroom of Permanent TSB. Director John O’Conor said: “The awards have given thousands of students with aspirations to move into the magical worlds of music or drama a valuable and practical grounding in experiencing the personal sacrifices, the challenges and, of course, the incredible highs that come with performance.”