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The September Céilí at Ely House

Council 146

26 September 2026

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About thirty people stand together on the wooden floor of the hall at Ely House. At the front, two women hold fiddles and bows and a man between them holds a bodhrán. Behind the group hangs the Order's crest: a shield of purple and green with gold wings and a white Celtic cross. Framed portraits hang on the walls either side.

The musicians and dancers at the St Colmcille Society's September Céilí, Ely House, Dublin, 26 September 2026. Photograph: St Colmcille Society.

The St Colmcille Society held its third annual September Céilí at Ely House, the Order's headquarters on Ely Place, Dublin, on the evening of Saturday 26 September 2026. The night was organised by Brother Harry Ó Mathúna of CK146.

 

Dancers hold hands in a ring in the middle of the hall at Ely House, on a wooden floor edged with blue patterned carpet. At the far end hangs the Order's crest, purple and green with gold wings and a white Celtic cross, above a scroll reading Instaurare Omnia in Christo. Framed portrait drawings line the walls.
Sets on the floor of the hall at Ely House, beneath the Order's crest.

The sets filled the floor beneath the Order's crest and its motto, Instaurare Omnia in Christo.

 

No dancing experience was needed. The dances were called from the floor, beginners were welcome, and so were all clergy.

 

A man in a white shirt, black waistcoat and cream trousers speaks into a microphone at the edge of the floor, while the dancers of a set join hands beside him. The Order's crest hangs on the wall behind.
Calling a set at the edge of the floor.

 

The music

A bodhrán and two fiddles played for the dancing from the top of the hall. The sound on the video below is theirs, from the society's own clips of the night.

 

Three musicians sit side by side at the top of the hall: a man holding a bodhrán and its beater, and two women with fiddles and bows. Behind them are the edge of the Order's crest, the papal flag and a tall window.
The musicians: a bodhrán and two fiddles.

 

The society

The St Colmcille Society's banner stood at the door of the hall: St Colmcille, from a stained-glass window, beneath the old motto of the Fianna, Glaine ár gcroí, neart ár ngéag, beart de réir ár mbriathar. The purity of our hearts, the strength of our limbs, and deeds to match our word.

 

A pull-up banner stands beside an open double door. It shows St Colmcille in a stained-glass window, holding a book marked with a red cross, with a dove at his shoulder and a crozier beside him. Above him is a line of Irish, and beneath him the words St Colmcille Society. Through the doorway, guests stand in the hall.
The St Colmcille Society's banner at the door of the hall.

 

The society's thanks

The society thanked everyone who came, in Irish first:

 

Míle buíochas do gach duine a bhí ag an gcéilí linn, tá súil againn gur bhain chuile dhuine agaibh an-taitneamh as an oíche.

 

Thanks again to everyone who was at the céilí, we hope you all enjoyed the night.

 

The photographs and the video are the society's own. Our thanks to Brother Harry for organising the night, and for sending them on. More photographs from the evening are in the gallery below. The society posts news of its evenings on Instagram at @stcolmcillesociety.

 

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