Over 800 to compete at County Fleadh this weekend

It is all sessions go as Kilnaleck gets set to welcome Fleadh Cheoil an Chabháin this June Bank Holiday Weekend, writes Thomas Lyons.

Over the weekend, there will be an astonishing programme of events with the finest of traditional music, song, dance and performance on display.
Philip Clarke is the Irish Officer of the Brian Galligan branch of Comhaltas, which is hosting the county fleadh. He said that this year's event in Kilnaleck is set to be the biggest county Fleadh to date: “We have in excess of 820 entrants. That is a record high, up maybe 200 on last year. Not only are there large numbers, but the standard is also exceptionally high.”
Philip says that the public appetite for traditional music is particularly high: “It is flourishing at the moment. Since hosting the three All-Ireland fleadhanna, it has given a whole new impetus to the local organisation. There is a whole upsurge in appreciation of music and the teaching of music in the area. There are 11 branches in the county now and the whole thing has taken off.”


As well as the daily competitions, there are exceptional high calibre of musicians participating in the evening concerts: “The evening concerts are run by NYAH and Martin Donohoe is in charge of that. It is an addendum to the Fleadh. It is great because it brings a lot of people, particularly on the Monday, because the competitions run on the Saturday and Sunday, with the official opening on the Friday night and dancing competitions on the Friday night.”
Festivities commence on Friday, June 2, with dance competitions in St Patrick's Hall and the GAA clubrooms from 5.30pm. The Fleadh's official opening is at the Gig Rig on Main Street, Kilnaleck, from 8.30pm, with music and song from the local national schools, followed by sessions throughout the town. NYAH @ The Fleadh (for more see page 39) present the launch of Bernadette Nic Gabhann's new fiddle CD in TM Hill's Vintage Bar from 9pm where the admission is free.
On Saturday, June 3, the competitions commence at 10am in St Patrick's NS. The classes are tin whistle, accompaniment, duets, miscellaneous, storytelling, bodhran, singing, lilting, trios, newly composed tunes, drums ceili band, grupaí ceoil. Later that evening the Fleadh Ceilí will be held in St Patrick's Hall from 9pm.
On Sunday, June 4, the competitions commence from 10am in St Patrick's NS and the Realtóg Centre. The Sunday competitions include: banjo, mandolin, button accordion, melodeon, fiddle, fiddle slow air, flute, flute slow air, piano accordion, piano, concertina, uileann pipes, uileann pipes slow airs, harp, harp slow air, mouth organ and comhrá gaeilge.
That evening a concert of the finest calibre will take place in St Patrick's Hall, Kilnaleck from 7.30pm sharp. Martin Hayes, Denis Cahill, Brian McGrath, Pat McCabe, Michael Curran, Mick Maloney, Athena Tergis, Brenda Castles, Fintan McManus. Also performances from Savannah Donohoe and Charlie Galloway, and 'Aos Óg'.
Monday's highlight is the NYAH @ The Fleadh All Star Concert in St Patrick's Hall. It starts at 7:30pm sharp and features renowned artists include Patsy Hanly, Liam O'Connor, Brian McGrath, Eamon McGivney, Darren Breslin, Malachy Bourke, Neansai Ni Choisdealbha, Antoin MacGabhann and many more.
If you want tickets for any of the concerts they are available from Martin Donohoe on 086-8173153 or from Multisound, Cavan.

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