Laois Comhaltas group want you to help them their Ruby year

Spink Comhaltas is looking forward to celebrating a significant “roundy” birthday in 2023. Founded on 22nd November 1983, Spink was originally formed as Ballyroan Comhaltas.

It then became known as Ballyroan/Spink Comhaltas and from 1988 it has been known as Spink Comhaltas. As part of celebrating 40 years in existence, Spink Comhaltas is looking forward to planning a large number of events, in addition to hosting the Laois Fleadh. More details will follow in due course.

However, in the meantime, the Spink voluntary committee is taking this opportunity to write a short history of Spink Comhaltas, with the objective of having it completed and published by October 2023. This history will celebrate all of the present and past members of Spink Comhaltas, as well as providing some wider context for the strong tradition of music in Laois.

So, the Spink committee are inviting contributions - be they long or short - of people’s memories of their time in Spink. This might be as a musician or dancer, a parent, a teacher, or some of the wider community that Spink have worked with over the years. MORE BELOW PICTURE

Contributions are invited by 31 January 2023. This will allow the Spink team to see what source material is available, and to follow up with contributors to develop and refine their stories.

If you have a friend or a relative who was connected with Spink Comhaltas over the last 40 years, put them in touch with us by sending details to Music@SpinkComhaltas.ie

Some items that might trigger memories BELOW PICTURE.

• Were you part of the group who performed on Kenny Live on RTÉ?
• Did you travel to Germany with Spink?
• Did you represent Spink in Fleadh Cheoil, Cheoil an Gheimhridh, or Siansa competitions?
• Were you a winner of one of the secondary school trophies sponsored by Spink?
• Did you take part in one of Spink’s summer seisiúns?
• Did you do the SCT music exams with Spink?
• Did you rent an instrument from Spink as part of your own journey in music?
• Were you connected with the charity fund-raising concerts run by Spink?

Or maybe you have other memories from your time with Spink. If so, let them know. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Spink Comhaltas provides traditional Irish music to juniors and adults, and its members come from Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare and Wicklow. Members are prepared for Fleadh Cheoil competitions, SCT music exams, and learn a wide repertoire of Irish music, as well as the performance skills necessary to entertain audiences.

Spink Comhaltas operates a very comprehensive instrument bank for its junior members, and hosts the very successful summer seisiúns series in Heritage House, Abbeyleix, on Wednesday evenings during July and August. Spink Comhaltas will be hosting Laois Fleadh in June 2023.

You can contact Spink Comhaltas at music@spinkcomhaltas.ie or on Facebook and Twitter @SpinkComhaltas