COMHALTAS

COMHALTAS is an international organization that promotes the culture, language, music, and dance of Ireland. It began in January of 1951 when representatives of the Pipers Club, Dublin, traveled to Mullingar with a view of forming a branch of the Pipers Club in Mullingar. It was at this meeting that a decision to include all traditional instrumentalists was made. The following month, February 4, 1951, a meeting was convened to arrange for the holding of the first Fleadh, or festival, in conjunction with feis lar na hEireann the following May on the Whit Sunday weekend.