Portglenone CCE was established back in 1973 by a group of devoted music lovers. Under the guidance of Ann and Colm O’Brien, Matt Mc Ateer, Edith Spiers, Joe Clarke, Willis Patton and Brian Quinn, the first ever AGM meeting was held in the Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone, and to this day, this remains the venue for our AGM and Branch meetings.

Over the last 50 years, the Portglenone branch has matured and blossomed with almost 100 children and adults receiving weekly tuition in instrumental music and song or participating in our Wednesday night sessions.

To celebrate this massive achievement, The Portglenone Branch are hosting a range of special events over the weekend of 27th – 29th October 2023.

First up is a Traditional Singing Workshop, with Mairead Walls, on Friday 27th October in The Bank Building from 7.00pm – 8.30pm followed by a singing session to late.

Then on Saturday 28th October, the Irish Traditional Music Workshops in Fiddle, Tin Whistle, Flute, Accordion and Concertina take place in The Bank Building from 11.00am – 2.30pm, led by members of the Blackwater Céilí Band.

The highlight of the Weekend will be the Blackwater Céilí Band in Concert at The Riverside Suite in The Wild Duck Inn from 7.30pm. They will be joined on stage with Mairead Walls, Portglenone CCE Group, a few local guests and some of our very own founding members of the Branch all those years ago.

Celebrations will continue on Sunday 29th October with an All County Session in The Wild Duck Inn from 2.00pm onwards to complete the fabulous weekend of festivities.