The Oranmore Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was established on the 8th February, 1978. 



We pay homage, and our deepest thanks, to the foresight and vision of our founder members, whose passion and dedication to the "promotion of the music, song, dance and language of Ireland", has led to many highlights for our branch over the past 42 years, including:

Dance classes established in the Old Boys' School, in 1978.

Music classes established and a marching band formed, for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, in Galway City.

Our Branch boasts countless County, Connacht and All-Ireland Fleadh participants, prizewinners and champions, in solo instrument, singing, duet, trio, grupaí cheoil and céilí band competitions, since our first representation at an All-Ireland Fleadh, in Buncrana 1979. Many of those fleadh prizewinners became teachers ,within and outside of the branch, ensuring the "handing down" of the tradtion, ó ghlúin go glúin, and adjudicators, helping to refine our skills and abilities as we continue to strive for excellence.

We liased with the already very well-established Oranmore Dancing Feis to add Music and Singing Competitions to the event. The Music Feis is still run annually, and includes Ámhránaíocht and Aithriseoireacht. 

In the 1980's, the Oranmore Seisiún Group was established, performing shows of Irish music, song and dance, up to 4 nights per week, every July and August, for many years, at various venues, including, the Ardilaun House Hotel and the Imperial Hotel, Galway City, Ballindereen Community Centre, Kinvara Independent Hostel and the Oranmore Lodge Hotel.

Our Seisiún Group also attended the national 'Seisiún na Samhna' gatherings, the first being held, at Óstán na Rossa, Dungloe, Co. Donegal, another at Cultúrlann na hÉireann, Monkstown, Dublin, and a later gathering, in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. 

We hosted the "Comhaltas Concert Tour of Ireland", in Kilcornan, annually, for many years, with record audiences of up to 500, and even 600, in attendance.

Our branch members hosted a visiting German Folkdance Group "Volkdanzkreis der Schlesier en Grunsfeld", in August, 1983.

We made 3 trips to Germany, as guests of "Volkdanzkreis der Schlesier en Grunsfeld", with performances in a range of settings, from the Mayor's Town Hall, in Grunsfeld, to festivals in Tauberbischofsheim, Wurzburg, and Hannover. Our first tour alone, comprised 26 members and involved a huge fundrasing campaign undertaken by all involved, through many sessions and concerts. 

The Oranmore Céil Band was established and performed at venues throughout the country, incluing Cois na hAbhna, now our regional CCÉ Centre, and at Cultúrlann na hÉireann, Monkstown.

The Oranmore Céilí Band, agus Ceol Beirte, participated and were among the prizewinners at Ceol an Gheimhridh competitions.

In Oranmore Céilí Band featured on the 'first to air' programme of the RTÉ television series, "The Mountain Lark", filmed on location, in The Cultúrlann, February, 1985.

We were also guest performers at the world renowned "Scarborough Fair" and on Radio York!

Strong links were fostered with other local organisations promoting our cutlture and heritage, for example, with the local branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, regular gatherings being held, "as Gaeilge"; and music and dance groups and soloists were rehearsed and prepared to participate at Scór na nÓg.

In the 1990's, we hosted 2 hugely succesful, County Fleadhs, with approximately 1,000 entries, each year.

Brú Ború, Television Documentary, "From the Rock to the Wall" featured one of our own branch members.

We continue to provide musical enteratainment for a wide range of local community events, including the annual Senior Citizens party, and other very special occasions like Fr. Daniel's ordination party. We played lively dance music for a very successful fund-raising céilí, September 2019. 

We are very proud that Trad for Trócaire hold us in very high regard for the large amounts of money fund-raised at the music marathons we co-ordinated within the county and hosted locally, in Oran Town Centre.

Our very long-standing, monthly session, held on the last Tuesday night of every month, in Keane's Bar, is greatly enjoyed by all who attend, musicians, singers and listeners alike. An annual New Year's Day session, from 4pm to 6pm, has become an integral part of our session tradition.

We established a tradition of holding a Remembrance Mass every November for the deceased members of Comhaltas and friends, the music at which is always extra special and enjoyed by all who attend.

As Oranmore has grown, over the decades, from a small village to a large town, we continue to welcome new members, who share our passion for appreciating, celebrating and promoting our music, song, dance and language.