Cleamairí Feirste - Belfast Wren Boys
Annual Report April 2025
Charity no. 108217
Date registered. 17/09/2021
Public benefits
The direct benefits flowing from purpose A include; higher standards of the arts and increased awareness and understanding of Irish culture, language and indigenous arts.
The direct benefits flowing from purpose B include; enhanced appreciation and understanding of indigenous arts for people of all ages and backgrounds and a feeling of happiness.
What our organisation does
Provide workshops and performances in indigenous arts especially music, poetry, dance, song, drama, mumming and the Wren Boy tradition.
The charity’s classifications
The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
Who the charity helps
Addictions (drug/solvent/alcohol abuse)
Asylum seekers/refugees
Children (5-13 year olds)
Ethnic minorities
Ex-offenders and prisoners General public
Hiv/aids
Interface communities Language community Learning disabilities
Men
Mental health
Older people Overseas/developing countries Parents
Physical disabilities
Preschool (0-5 year olds) Sensory disabilities
Specific areas of deprivation Travellers
Unemployed/low income
Victim support
Voluntary and community sector Volunteers
Women
Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
Arts events
Community development Community enterprise Cross-border/crosscommunity Cultural events
Working with people with Disabilities
Education/training
General charitable purposes Heritage/historical Playgroup/after schools
Cleamairí Feirste- The Belfast Wren Boys
Charitable purposes
2.1 The charitable purposes of Cleamairí Feirste – The Belfast Wren Boys are: (a) to enhance the traditional arts with emphasis on the promotion of the Irish language through indigenous arts especially music, poetry, dance, song, drama, mumming and the Wren Boy tradition; (b) to enhance the educational and social experiences of people of all ages with an emphasis on social inclusion, community development and peace and reconciliation through the provision of indigenous arts; (c) to develop and provide a programme of events in the area of benefit; (d) to develop and provide arts,
cultural, educational and community development events throughout the year in the area of benefit; (e) to provide skills training and personal development capacity and opportunities for all citizens in the area of benefit; (f) to offer people in the area of benefit the opportunity to participate in activities based on arts and crafts, music, song, drama, storytelling, poetry and dance; (g) To enhance community links between the area of benefit i.e. the Irish language speaking community, traditional and indigenous arts communities, schools, care homes, etc.
Cleamairí Feirste- The Belfast Wren Boys
People
4 Trustees
N/A Employees
N/A Volunteers
Contact details
Email: cleamairifeirste@gmail.com Tel: 07803501916
Trustees
Daithí Mac Uait
Jo Fitzsimmons
Gerry Crossan
John (Jackie) Mc Mullan
Public address
Mr Cormac Ó Briain, 283-289 Antrim Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 2GZ
Trustees Report
Financial Year ended 05/04/2025
Cleamairí Feirste has gone from strength to strength this year. We succeeded in further promoting our organisation to new audiences throughout Ireland. We managed to break into new festivals and develop relationships with artistic organisations and community groups which will continue into the future. Our organisation developed new plays and material. We feel that the organisation is really moving in the right direction and that we are in a good place looking to the future.
The Organisations main goal this year was to build on the work done last year to develop the organisation so we could expand our exposure to new audiences and avenues of publicity.
The organisation has both developed current material and produced new shows and plays. Most notably a collaboration of Maori mythology and Irish culture and storytelling in a play about Maui capturing the sun, and a story of how Cú Chullainn got his name.
Activities we have undertaken this financial year are as follows:
Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain
CCMR Summer School
Lúnasa community festival
Radio Fáilte 03/05/2024 & 04/02/2025
Bealtaine Celebration
Inbolc Celebration
Cultúrlann Mac Adaim Ó Fiaich 11/05/2024
Performances for gaelscoil children
Belfast Tradfest July 24
Performance at Titanic Ceilidh
Foras na Gaeilge Project Mar-Oct 2024
10 Performances in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelionaid in Gaeltacht areas.
Ultach Trust Project Spring 2024
10 shows in places in which the Irish language is not commonly used
Artsekta 18/05/2024
Community parade in Belfast
Upper Andersonstown Community Forum 21/06/2024
Summer solstice celebration
If You Know You Know Festival 24/08/2024
Traditional Performance
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum 29 & 30/10/2024
Halloween Performances
Skainos East Belfast 31/10/2024
Cross community project
RSPB 21/12/2024
Winter Solstice Festival
Shaw’s Road Gaeltacht Belfast 25/12/2024
Lá an Dreoilín Community Play
Goals for the coming year
Our goals for the coming year are to increase our international performances and promote ourselves further within Ireland. We also want to continue to develop new plays and material. We also want to increase and develop our pool of performers to strengthen the organisation for the future.
| Signed | Date | Signed | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| J McMullan. | Gerry Crossan | ||
| Chairman | Hon Treasurer |