Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish culture. Founded in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath in 1951 CCÉ is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. CCÉ has over 400 branches and 36,000 members worldwide. Comhaltas Craobh Barry Cogan is San Diego’s first branch of CCÉ.
Comhaltas found its way to San Diego by Corkman and CCÉ legend, Barry Cogan. Mr. Cogan saw the vitality of San Diego’s Irish trad scene and proposed the opening of a local CCÉ branch to his son, Máirtín de Cógáin. To honor his vision, we’ve given our local branch his name, Comhaltas Barry Cogan.
Here Mr. Cogan (right) is pictured with the current leader of Comhaltas, Vince Jordan.
While we believe it’s important for our students to be learning effectively and efficiently, we also are firm in the belief that everything about our programs should be fun and enjoyable. Music should never be a chore, a burden, or be forced, and we pay extra attention to making sure that doesn’t happen. We have made music the center point in our lives, and we hope to show our students why and how it can be that way for them as well.