The Music Class:     This is open to all ages. In the class just now, beginners are finding their way around their instruments and learning to play their first tunes. We have some 12 youngsters of school age learning to grasp the skills necessary to negotiate reels, jigs and polkas by means of a fiddle, a whistle or an accordion.

This can be difficult at first, but as with any skill, practice plus perseverance in practice bring their own rewards.

Once you have learned the technique, tune is added to tune, so that eventually you can sit in on an Irish music session any where in the world, with anyone who happens to be playing.                                             

             The Language Class: The language class is made up of people who are anxious to reclaim their own native tongue, even though they be second, third or even further generations removed from their Irish roots. There is one student who has no Irish roots at all, but is anxious to learn the rudiments of the tongue.

The classes are very informal and relaxed. No pressure to achieve is applied by the teachers. People go at their own pace and feel comfortable with that. It is very good to hear Irish being spoken at whatever level, even if it is suffused with flat Yorkshire vowels!

       The Dance Class: This class is very popular and again takes all ages. Many of the dancers are not Irish, but simply like to do the dances.

This is step-dancing, of the 'Riverdance' variety, but there is also Set and Céilí dancing. Sets of eight people (four couples) dance together through a series of patterned movements called figures.

A set dance is made up of a number of figures danced to fast reels, jigs. hornpipes and polkas.

Céili dances are quite different in that they cater for lots of people at the same time dancing long-dances made up of perhaps as many as 16 persons in one group or as little as two persons in a two-handed reel for example.

All of this is danced to live music and at the end of a set or céilí dance you know you have been involved in Irish dancing.

Everyone is welcome to come along and have a go at acquiring any of these skills. You are sure to get the bug! 

                                                                               A Comhaltas music session