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Civic welcome for Argentinians
 COMHALTAS
has launched its first branch in South America. The River Plate Branch
of Comhaltas held its inaugural meeting in Ceolaras Coleman in Gurteen
in Co. Sligo.
Some 26 musicians and four dancers from Buenos Aires in Argentina elected
their committee.
Earlier in the day the group attended a civic reception with the newly-elected
Mayor of Sligo Jonathan McGoldrick and afterwards entertained shoppers
with an impromptu session in O’Connell Street.
The 30 visitors, some of whom are descendents of Irish emigrants, later
entertained a capacity audience in the theatre at Ceolaras Coleman.
Those present were amazed with the level of performance of Irish traditional
music, song and dance.
The group was in Ireland as part of the year-long commemoration of the
150th anniversary of the death of Admiral Brown.
Later they adjourned to the Róisín Dubh where they were
joined by local stalwarts Sheila O’Dowd, Peter Horan, Philip Doddy,
Loretta Taheny, and John and Maria McHugh from Foxford in Co. Mayo.
Fernando Marcos is a member of the group and one of only two qualified
teachers of Irish traditional dancing on the South American continent.
He said: “I like to tango but Irish music is everything to me. I
love dancing hornpipes and reels and I love the Irish music.
“It is quite unbelievable to me that we live so far away but are
being linked in this way today.
“It makes us feel so welcome, warm and loved.”
Also in the group was Augustin Brown a seventh-generation descendent
of Admiral William Brown who was born in Foxford.
Admiral Brown was founder of the Argentinian navy and revered throughout
South America with some 1,100 streets, six towns, 320 schools, 441 plazas
and six football teams named after him.
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