The Headford/Kilcoona Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was formed in the Autumn of 1969. The Branch hosted its first County Fleadh in 1970 and hosted it again in 1978. In 1980 Headford/Kilcoona Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann staged the Connacht Fleadh and more recently the County Fleadh returned in 2019. The Branch has a large catchment area extending from the Galway-Mayo border right up to Annaghdown and Corrandulla and including the parishes of Headford and Caherlistrane. Many concert tours were hosted in the 1970's and 1980’s by the branch. Members of the Branch were also runners up in the All Ireland Pléaracha in the 1980's in Ennis.

For almost 40 years, our Chairperson Matt Cunningham has been teaching in Headford and the surrounding areas. In 2015, the Branch celebrated Matt’s contribution to music and teaching with a weekend long of events including concerts and a céilí. Matt has been teaching traditional music on numerous instruments to Branch members for over 30 years and at that time celebrated 50 years of playing and recording music for set dancing.

There have been numerous All-Ireland winners in music and dance down through the years with many members also qualifying for the All-Ireland Fleadh. Our branch continually strives to promote the enjoyment of traditional music and hosts numerous weekly sessions for our young members, run by Matt and his daughter Ita at Kilcoona Social Centre. An end of year, a feis is held to showcase the best of the tunes learned throughout the year and the Branch run a successful charity concert annually that features members and invited special guests.