After a few years of having to continuously postpone our céilís, Comhaltas Luxembourg is delighted to announce that our St. Patrick’s Day céilí (balfolk) is back for 2023!

We will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the Centre Culturel Hollerich on Saturday 18th March 2023, with a kids céilí at 14.30 and then another céilí that evening for adults.

Live music and performances from local Comhaltas musicians and dancers.

Tickets €10 on the door. Doors open 19.30, céilí dancing starts at approximately 20.00.  Cash only bar.

Scaipigí an scéal !

Comhaltas Luxembourg and Folk-Clupp Lëtzebuerg ASBL, in collaboration with Neimënster, are proud to welcome Shane McGowan and David Munnelly to Luxembourg as part of their Benelux tour

Date / time: 20 January 2023, 20.00

Venue: Salle Chapelle Neimënster, 28 Rue Münster L-2160 Luxembourg

Tickets 20 € / 1,50€ Kulturpass

Dave Munnelly is a virtuoso on the diatonic accordion whose repertoire includes the traditional music of his native Ireland as well as European music and his own compositions. He has played with Niamh Parsons, The Chieftains, De Dannan and the Accordion Samurai (with Riccardo Tesi, Markku Lepistö, Simone Bottasso and Kepa Junkera).

Shane MacGowan is an in-demand guitarist, having played with Dave for twelve years, but has also played with groups such as Slide, Geraldin MacGowan and John Carty Festival Band.

For more information and videos: http://davidmunnelly.com/munnelly-mcgowan/

Booking: www.neimenster.lu – T + 352 / 26 20 52 – 1
Information : contact@neimenster.lu

All-Ireland Fleadh Winners
Centre Culturel Cessange, rue St Joseph L 1838 Luxembourg
Saturday 10 December 2022
Doors 19h30, tickets EUR 15; students & members EUR 10

The Fleadh is a traditional Irish music competition which has been held annually since 1951. Musicians from around the world compete in a range of categories as solo musicians, duos and trios, right up to céilí drum bands, and with instruments from fiddles and flutes to bodhráns to bouzoukis. Comhaltas Luxembourg asbl is proud to invite this year’s Trio winners to Luxembourg for an evening of music and entertainment at the Centre Culturel, Cessange on Saturday 10 December 2022.

The Trio winners this year are 3 young musicians from County Down:
Oisín Bradley – Concertina
Aoibhín Morgan – Fiddle
Lucia Morgan – Flute

All members of Warrenpoint Comhaltas, they have been immersed in Irish traditional music from a young age. In developing their music, they have performed at numerous local events and have travelled throughout Ireland. They have been involved in branch groups and bands and enjoyed music trips abroad to North Carolina, Kirovsk and St Petersburg. At the Iúr Cinn Fleadh 2022 they performed alongside Tim Edey at the headline concert with The Sands Family from Rostrevor, Co. Down. Other events include festivals, radio programmes, Fleadh competitions, concerts and weddings. In between university studies
and performing, they also really enjoy teaching music.

The Trio will perform at the Centre Cultural, rue St Joseph, Cessange on 10 December 2022.

Doors open 19h30, General entrance EUR 15; Students & Comhaltas members EUR 10. For information on how to become a member of Comhaltas Luxembourg click here.

Music workshops (concertina, fiddle and flute) will be organised on Saturday afternoon. For additional information please contact comhaltas.lu@gmail.com

 British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg 2022 will take place from 16-24 September 2022, in an in-cinema format.

The film festival provides a unique opportunity for viewers to experience a wide selection of new films from Britain and Ireland. The 9-day event will include 13 feature-length films from a cross-section of genres and representing mainly independent cinema, as well as a couple of short films. In addition, there are three special events being held midweek, including two seminars plus a special “Solidarity with Refugees” event.

Of perhaps special interest to Comhaltas members and supporters are the following documentaries:

Continuing Traditions by Dónal Ó Céilleachair, about blending Indian classical music and Irish traditional music (Saturday 17 September, 19.00 @ Ciné Utopia, followed by a reception with music from Comhaltas musicians);

Steps of Freedom, The Story of Irish Dance (IE, 80 mins) by Ruán Magan, about how Irish dance developed over centuries (Friday 23 September, 18:30 @ Cinèmathèque);

For more detailed information on the programme, please visit www.bifilmseason.lu.

Irish Prose and Poetry from the Grand Duchy by Terry Adams
Musical accompaniment by Terry O’ Brien & Co. (traditional Irish music)

Auditorium Henri Beck, 2 rue Genistre – 24 May 2022, 18.30

Reservation necessary
Tel. 4796 2732 or e-mail : bibliotheque@vdl.lu

Kila play Opderschmelz, Dudelange Saturday 12 March as part of the Zeltik festival – a rare opportunity to catch the band in Luxembourg

For more details and to buy tickets see https://opderschmelz.lu/festivals/1062

We are coming out of a long period of dormancy and picking up activities again.
Dance classes have been taking place since the fall but no sessions until recently.

We are holding a General Meeting on Friday 4 March in Eirelux from 19h00 to restore the committee,  discuss activities and membership.  Volunteers are welcome to join the committee, especially representatives of the dancers.  If you have suggestions or proposals but are unable to attend, feel free to mail us.

We have sessions in Eirelux on the First Friday of each month so the General Meeting will be followed by a session in the bar.

Note that current covid rules will apply

Comhaltas Luxembourg is sad to announce the passing of Philomena Lane.  She was a founder member of Comhaltas in Luxembourg and driving force for many activities, notably céilís and set dancing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.  

https://rip.ie/death-notice/philomena-lane-mitchelstown-cork/486855

Comhaltas Luxembourg and Folk-Clupp Luxembourg, in collaboration with Neimënster, are proud to welcome Shane McGowan and David Munnelly to Luxembourg as part of their Benelux tour

Date / time: 22 January 2022, 20:00 **Postponed until January 2023 due to COVID restrictions**

Venue: Salle Chapelle Neimënster, 28 Rue Münster L-2160 Luxembourg

Tickets 20 € / 1,50 € Kulturpass

For more information and to purchase tickets see www.neimenster.lu or email billetterie@neimenster.lu

COVID check required, for more information please see www.covidcheck.lu

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As part of their Essence of Irish and Scottish Christmas Tour, The Outside Track will play at the Centre Culturel Régional Op der Schmelz, Dudelange on 24 November 2021.

Date / time: 24 November 2021, doors open 19h00, concert 20h00

Venue: Centre Culturel Régional Op der Schmelz, 1a rue de centenaire, Dudelange, Luxembourg

Presale tickets 20 € (+ booking fee), tickets at the door 25 €, free entry with Kulturpass

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: https://opderschmelz.lu/en/agenda/1604_1409

About the band
Winner of ‘Best Group’ in both the Live Ireland awards and the Tradition In Review awards, The Outside Track are one of the top Celtic acts in the world. They were ‘Best Live Act’ nominees in the MG Alba Scots Traditional Music Awards, and won the German Radio Critics Prize, for their album Flash Company. Live Ireland called them, ‘Among the top bands in the world – stunning on every cut!’.

The Outside Track’s marriage of Celtic music, song and dance has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, and Cape Breton, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on this as a foundation. They blend fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, whistle, step-dance and vocals with breathtaking vitality. Their blend of boundless energy and unmistakable joie de vivre has won them a large following around the globe.

The Irish Club of Luxembourg, together with G-Media sarl, is delighted that no less than 13 feature films from Ireland, plus a short film showcase and a film in the Irish-language, have been included in this year’s 12th annual British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg to be held over ten days from Thursday 16 September until Saturday 25 September 2021, with a hybrid format this year and In-Cinema screenings held under CovidCheck. 

The film festival provides a unique opportunity for viewers to experience a wide selection of new films from Britain and Ireland. The festival will screen 21 feature-length films (21 In-Cinema and 9 online (5 online-only)), from a cross-section of genres and representing mainly independent cinema, as well as some short films. 

The British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg will have screenings across two venues, Ciné Utopia in Limpertsberg and the Cinémathèque in Luxembourg-ville, as well as online, and will open with the screening of “Herself” am Irish drama set in the background of the housing crisis, and will close with the British-American co-production “The Current War”, a drama set in the world of innovation and energy. All but one films will be receiving their Luxembourg premiers during the festival, with the other having its English-language premier.

For more detailed information on the programme, please visit www.bifilmseason.lu.

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Zeltik Festival 2021

The Zeltik festival is going ahead this year and will take place as an open air event at the Centre culturel opderschmelz in Dudelange on Saturday 24 July 2021. Doors open at 17.00. Tickets 25€ (presale) or 30€ (at the door). Free entry with the Kulturpass. Address: Centre culturel opderschmelz, 1a, rue du centenaire, L-3475 Dudelange . For more information and to buy tickets, please see: https://zeltik.lu/

LINE UP 2021

18:00 Schëppe Siwen

19.10 Celtica

20.30 Beoga

22.00  Hothouse Flowers

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Bohemians FC play F91 Dudelange Thursday 22 July at 18h30 at the Stade Jos Nusbaum in Dudelange.

A rare chance to support an Irish team in UEFA league.

See more information on the Dudelange website. You will need a vaccination certificate or proof of negative Covid test to enter grounds.

https://www.f91.lu/games/results/game/sceneID/198469/

https://www.f91.lu/news/prevente-f91-diddeleng-bohemian-fc-26470/

The Irish Club of Luxembourg (ICL), in partnership with the Ireland-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ILCC) and the Luxembourg branch of Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann, is organising a unique St Patrick’s event this year: in light of the ongoing government restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s St Patrick’s event will be an online guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol (http://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/). Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin; it closed its doors in 1924. Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23. Many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and the 1916 Easter Rising, as well as members of the Irish republican movement during the War of Independence and Civil War, were imprisoned and in some cases executed in the prison by the orders of the UK Government. Some of the most famous political and military leaders in Irish history were imprisoned there, including Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell and Eamon de Valera. The Gaol also played a role during the harsh Famine times. It held thousands of ordinary men, women and children whose crimes ranged from petty offences such as stealing food to more serious crimes such as murder or rape. Convicts from many parts of Ireland were held here for long periods before being transported to Australia. It is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Government of Ireland. The 40-minute online guided tour will be presented by David O’Neill, professional tour guide at Kilmainham Gaol, and will be followed by a Q&A session. The presentation will cover various aspects of its history, including conditions at the gaol, political and social aspects, as well as children imprisoned there. Registration to attend this online event is free-of-charge and can be done online at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApdOyurDsqHtYIpAIjs5gjpmUNh39iWbEo until 16 March at 18:00. Connection instructions / guidelines on how to join the call, including the Zoom link, will be provided. Please note that the link provided is non-transferrable and may only be used by one person. If you have any queries, please email Geoff THOMPSON, Irish Club President) at gwt@pt.lu  

The British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg (BIFFL) is organising two online screenings during the St Patrick’s week in mid-March. The film festival, which started in 2010, ran a highly-successful in-cinema festival last September despite COVID-19 restrictions, and is currently planning to hold a hybrid festival this year, provisionally from 17-25 September. Over the past few years, it has also organised the screening of one or more Irish films in March. The two films being screened next month are as follows: – “The Winter Lake” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9778348) (Ireland, Canada), directed by Phil Sheerin and starring Emma Mackey (Sex Education (tv series)), Anson Boon (1917; Sulphur and White), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders (tv series)) and Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones; Justice League; The Last Right). Drama/thriller, 92 mins. Synopsis: When Holly’s dark secret is accidentally uncovered by her new emotionally unstable neighbour Tom, they are pulled into a violent confrontation with her father, who will do anything to keep the secret hidden. Shot in Sligo. Geo-blocked for Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and France. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP7YpJeKDFA – “Wildfire” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9180460) (Ireland, UK) , directed by Cathy Brady and starring Nika McGuigan (Philomena; The Secret Scripture; Mammal; Malicious Intent; Traders), Nora-Jane Noone (Brooklyn; The Magdalene Sisters; Brand New-U) and Kate Dickie (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi; Balance, Not Symmetry). Drama, 85 mins. Synopsis: Inseparable sisters raised in a small town on the Irish border, Lauren and Kelly’s lives were shattered with the mysterious death of their mother. Left to pick up the pieces after her sister abruptly disappeared, Lauren is suddenly confronted with the family’s dark and traumatic past when Kelly returns home after being reported missing for a whole year. The intense sisterhood reignited, Kelly’s desire to unearth their history is not welcomed by all in the small town, as rumours and malice spread like wildfire, threatening to push them over the edge. Shot in Donegal. Geo-blocked for Luxembourg and Belgium. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSuf36TKyrk The films can be viewed any time during the St Patrick’s week, i.e. from Monday 15 March (09:00) to Monday 22 March (18:00) inclusive. Tickets are €9/film screening. Each ticket allows the viewer to have more than one person viewing the screening online, unlike in-cinema screenings when a ticket is just for one person. Advance tickets go on sale on Wednesday 3 March at 10:00 at https://www.ifiinternational.ie/page/biffl/ (click on “Create Account” and follow the instructions on screen). For more details please refer to the attached press release. BIFFL-St-Patricks-2021 Press Release EN

The full programme for the 11th annual British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg (BIFFL) has been announced and includes no less than eight (8) Irish (co-)productions, of which two are in Irish (with EN sub-titles). All 8 films will have post-screening Q&As, with 7 of these with the director/actors joining online, and just the Luxembourg co-production having the director, co-producer and members of the cast in attendance. The festival brochure/programme is available to be posted to you FREE-OF-CHARGE – just send an email to geoff@bifilmseason.lu with your name and address. IRISH (CO-)PRODUCTIONS

• Sat 19 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 19:00: A Bump Along the Way (NI, 95 mins) by Shelly Love (Q&A with producer Louise Gallagher and actor Bronagh Gallagher)
• Sun 20 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 16:30: The Tribe of Gods (IE, FR, 92 mins) by Loïc Jourdain – in Irish with EN sub-titles (Q&A with film-maker Loïc Jourdain)
• Mon 21 Sep @ Cinémathèque @ 20:30: The Last Right (IE, 106 mins) by Aoife Crehan (Q&A with director/writer Aoife Crehan)
• Tue 22 Sep @ Cinémathèque @ 20:30: The Castle (IE, LT, 115 mins) by Lina Luzyte (Q&A with director/co-writer Lina Luzyte)
• Wed 23 Sep @ Cinémathèque @ 20:30: Arracht (IE, 86 mins) by Tom Sullivan – in Irish with EN sub-titles (Q&A with actor Seán T. Ó Meallaigh)
• Thurs 24 Sep @ Cinémathèque @ 20:30: Bruno (IE, EN, 94 mins) by Karl Golden (Q&A with actor Diarmaid Murtagh)
• Fri 25 Sep @ Cinémathèque @ 20:30: Breaking Ice (IE, 70 mins) by Jason Branagan (Q&A with director Jason Branagan)
• Sat 26 Sep @ Kinepolis-Kirchberg @ 19:00: Awards & The Racer (IE, LU, BE, 97 mins) by Kieron J. Walsh (Q&A with co-producer Jesus Gonsalez and director Kieron J. Walsh.

  BRITISH (CO-)PRODUCTIONS

• Tue 8 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 19:00: The Personal History of David Copperfield (EN, US, 119 mins) by Armando Iannucci – a number of tickets for this Avant-Premier which is outside the main festival are available
• Fri 18 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 19:00: The High Note (EN, US, CH, 113 mins) by Nisha Ganatra
• Fri 18 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 21:30: Strange But True (EN, CA, 95 mins) by Rowan Athale
• Sat 19 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 16:30: Sulphur & White (EN, 121 mins) by Julian Jarrold (Q&A with director Julian Jarrold)
• Sat 19 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 21:30: I See You (EN, US, 96 mins) by Adam Randall
• Sun 20 Sep @ Ciné Utopia @ 19:30: The Keeper (EN, DE, 120 mins) by Marcus H. Rosenmüller

Tickets cost €9 (plus admin fee) from www.luxembourg-ticket.lu,  with Season Special Tickets (€35 for 5 films) and Ticket Bundles (€15 for 2 films; €20 for 3 films) available from tel: 470895-1. Some tickets may be available for purchase at the door of some screenings, but cannot be guaranteed. In addition to the screenings:

• an Online Seminar entitled “Short Films: Business or Pleasure” takes place on Wednesday 23 September @ 18:00 – 19:00 (free entry; in collaboration with the Ireland-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ILCC) – register by email: info@ilcc.lu); and
• a Film Quiz is being organised on Wednesday 14 October @ 19:00, online (tables of 2-4, €15/person) – register by email: geoff@bifilmseason.lu

The British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg (BIFFL) is organised by G-Media sarl with the support of the Irish Club of Luxembourg. See www.bifilmseason.lu  for full details (synopses, trailers, events, etc.).

Edit 05/03/2020: The COVID-19 virus is continuing to spread and appears to be easily transmitted. As céilí dancing involves a high level of interaction, we have decided it would be prudent to cancel our events on 14 March.

☘ Céilí for Kids ☘

Where: Gasperich Parish Hall
36 Rue de Gasperich L-1617, (beside the church)

When: Saturday 14th March 2020

Time: 14.30-16.00

Entrance: EUR 5 (free for members)

Edit 05/03/2020: The COVID-19 virus is continuing to spread and appears to be easily transmitted. As céilí dancing involves a high level of interaction, we have decided it would be prudent to cancel our events on 14 March.

We will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day in Gasperich on Saturday 14th March 2020.

Live music with the Kitchen Quartet and friends. Tickets €10 on the door (free for members). Doors open 7.30pm, céilí dancing starts 8pm.  Cash only bar.

Spread the word !

With an exciting blend of eclectic fiddle and guitar music, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre bring to the stage sympathetic arrangements of traditional Irish music, compositions and songs, old and new. Coming to CELO Hesperange in Luxembourg, Saturday 7 March 2020.

The winning All-Ireland Trio from the 2019 Fleadh will be coming to Luxembourg for a concert on 30th November at Sang a Klang, proudly hosted by Comhaltas Luxembourg.