Comhaltas: Midwest Region: |
ABOUT DETROIT IMA The Detroit IMA is a non-profit organization, offering classes to adults and children, all skill levels, in tin whistle, flute, fiddle, concertina, harp, singing in Irish and in English, Irish language, and set dancing. This year the Detroit IMA are proud to be hosts of the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil. This event is the qualifying contest for musicians and singers from all over the United States and Canada wishing to compete in the All-Ireland Music competitions (Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann) held every September in Ireland. The Detroit IMA is a Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Comhaltas is the largest cultural organization in Ireland with hundreds of Branches worldwide. Comhaltas was founded in 1951 with the purpose of preserving our cultural heritage. Comhaltas embraces people irrespective of status, creed or politics. The bonding of youth and age is one of the highlights of our branch. The music, song and dance of Ireland has woven a pattern of friendship in the community and their many friends and members throughout North America and the world. HISTORY The Branch started in the 1970's by Daniel O'Kennedy and Breege Kelly who were great supporters of Irish culture in the Detroit area. Known until 2006 as the the Crotty-Doran Branch, the main focus was to suppport the Comhaltas tours that came annually from Ireland. Detroit had not seen any real emigation from Ireland since the 1950s' and there was not a lot of traditional Irish traditional musicians in the Detroit area. There had been some great folk-pub bands through the area like Pat's People, Rakish Paddy and Sons of Erin but virtually no trad scene or regular sessions. In the 1970's when some of the locals took interest and stared seeking out people like uilleann piper, Al Purcell, who was living in the Detroit area and teaching the pipes out of his basement. The 1990's the Dertroit area saw many young students enter into Irish music and the branch, with proper traditional music instructors from people like piper, Al Purcell of Dublin, and fiddler Mick Gavin (Clare) developed a lot of great traditional players. In 2006 the name was changed to Detroit IMA. The Detroit IMA is part of the Midwest Region of Comhaltas North America which includes:
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