Counties Antrim & Derry Country Fiddlers Association (CADCFA) Annual Report – April 2023 – March 2024
CADCFA classes continue to grow from strength to strength with over 36 students Preliminary to Diploma grades attending weekly Saturday classes from 10 am in Broughshane Community Centre.
CADCFA celebrated 70 years in April 2023, the teaching team and volunteers agreed that building in orchestra time to our timetable would be invaluable. Indeed this was fantastic as it helped to build stronger relationships with all our students as well as providing encouragement to each other in coming together to play familiar tunes to an audience.
Our teaching team and committee agreed to look into CADCFA members’ polo shirts and or fleeces which have proven to be popular and comfy!
We held our AGM on Saturday 21[st] October 2023 in The Broughshane Community Centre and voting of our committee members was overseen by Sandy Wilson, Broughshane Community Association. We appreciate Sandy taking the time from his busy schedule to facilitate this.
CADCFA committee members proposed and seconded were:-
| Position | Name | Proposed | Seconded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | Meabh McKeon | Maire | Grainne |
| Vice Chairperson | Alex Kerr | Meabh | Maire |
| Secretary | Elaine Orr | Alex | Meabh |
| Treasurer | Jane Rea | Elaine | Pamela |
| Assistant Treasurer | Molly McAllister | Meabh | Alan |
| Grants Officer | Hugh Laverty | Meabh | Elaine |
| PR Officer | Maire | Karen | |
| Social Media | Chlöe Orr | Karen | Alex |
| Liaison Officer | Maire Buckley | Alex | Meabh |
| Leader of Sessions | Andrew Leacock | Alan | Chlöe |
| Music Co-ordinator | |||
| Head of Tuition | Meabh McKeon | Alex | Chlöe |
With our committee in place we commenced our years’ work with agreeing our meetings, socials and holidays. Our special event for 2023 would be our 70[th] Anniversary!
1
Counties Antrim & Derry Country Fiddlers Association (CADCFA) Annual Report – April 2023 – March 2024
Our first social of Autumn Concert & Ceilidh was held on 4[th] November 2022 and we were fortunate to have McStocker Ceilidh Band with us to walk us through our paces with Waves of Troy and Gay Gordons to name a few!
Aughafatten Accordian Band held their annual fundraiser on 8[th] November 2022 and CADCFA were asked to play a few tunes along with the band. This was a great night and way to continue to strengthen the relationships across the musical genres throughout not just Broughshane but further afield.
LCM exams were held November 2022 with Grades from Merit to Distinction obtained by students involved.
Christmas Social was held morning of Saturday 17[th] December 2022 at 11 am and it was lovely to share the beginning of the festive season with family and of course a mince pie or two.
CADCFA have a traditional New Year’s Eve get together at The Barn for a few tunes with family and friends from the local community. As always the tunes were enjoyed and some new friendships established. It is lovely to celebrate new beginnings in this way with our musical family. As you all know there was always good food, laughter and fun.
With Christmas and New Year celebrations over lessons commenced again on Saturday 14[th] January 2023. We were again encouraged with looking forward to exams and another social in February 2023.
Our annual February Social in memory of our esteemed member Acheson Armstrong on was held on 11[th] February 2023 in Slemish Barn. For those of you who knew Acheson he had been a member of CADCFA for over 50 years and he always attended our social events looking after the door and money for the same. As a committee following Acheson’s passing in February 2020 we agreed to hold an annual social in Acheson’s memory as close to his birthday as possible which was 14[th] February.
In March 2023 we were featured on The Antiques Road Trip as they filmed around part of Northern Ireland which had been filmed in November 2022 in The Barn and The Half Way House. This was a very special experience for those who were involved in getting to meet and talk to Natasha Raskin Sharp. Natasha even played a few cords on Maebh’s violin.
2
Counties Antrim & Derry Country Fiddlers Association (CADCFA) Annual Report – April 2023 – March 2024
On Saturday 25[th] March 2023 we played at The British Legion as part of a joint fundraiser for Cullybackey Historical Society and The British Legion. Our numbers were small due to space but the tunes were played mightily played and thoroughly enjoyed by all who listened whilst having a cuppa and a bun.
We celebrated our 70[th] Birthday on 15[th] April 2023 in Broughshane Community Centre. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a ceilidh dance or two played by McStockers Band. We are thankful for the support of family and friends for our events, it is greatly appreciated and an encouragement to the teaching team, volunteers and committee members.
At the end of June we finished our teaching year with our Summer social which gave all of our students the opportunity to showcase their exams pieces or other new pieces learnt throughout the year. Even though this was the end of the teaching year we always have our summer school week to look forward to.
SCT exams were held on 1[st] July 2023 with students obtaining Pass to Distinctions in their results.
Summer school week was held week commencing 24[th] July 2023 in The Braid Community Hub. This continues to be an encouragement to the students who attend as well as the staff who assist with the teaching. Following attendance at an NACN event CADCFA and The Braid Community Association were winners of £50 vouchers and it was agreed that CADCFA would use theirs as part of our summer school week. We took the opportunity to plant flowers and appreciate the safe space which The Braid Community Hub offers us and we hope to continue to build this relationship further in the coming months.
CADCFA is grateful to Broughshane Community Association and The Braid Community Association for their continued support throughout the year.
Financial Update including Grant applications (September 2022-August 2023)
CADCFA commenced September 2022 with a balance of £16,506,84 and final balance for August 2023 was £13,333.19. Our accounts were verified by Tax Accountants Ballymena and will be sent to The Charity Commission due to our charity status this is a legal requirement.
In respect of grants CADCFA made an application to DAERA Rural Micro Capital Grant in December 2022 for storage boxes and shelving for CADCFA’s record collection which is being housed in The Braid Community Hub. This has been
3
Counties Antrim & Derry Country Fiddlers Association (CADCFA) Annual Report – April 2023 – March 2024
invaluable to us in securing our LP collection. If you have a record player and wish to enjoy a few easy listening LPs please let us know.
CADCFA also made an application to Live Here, Love Here Grants in July 2023. This grant has allowed CADCFA to expand further the planting of flowers and trees at The Braid Community Hub which were started at the summer school.
CADCFA committee members wish to express their thanks to parents, friends and family for their continues support as without you our Association was not exist, keep growing and continue to be involved in cross community activities not only in Broughshane but throughout Northern Ireland.
Please accept this as a true reflection of CADCFA work throughout September 2022 to August 2023.
Maeve McKeon
CADCFA Chair
4