Festival of tradition is a welcome return

Cavan is bracing itself for a deluge of traditional music, song and dance as an exciting festival of entertainment will be programmed for the end of this month. NYAH Comhaltas group present NYAHFLIX 2021, which will run from June 24-27, 2021.

It is being billed as an online and live programme that will reflect the story and the legacy of traditional Irish music, song, dance and language of County Cavan and Ulster Tradition. The pre-recorded programmes provides an opportunity to introduce aspects of the rich cultural legacy of the region, as well as featuring the current cohort of musicians, singers, storytellers and dancers.

The artists are encouraged to tell their own story as they perform during the four free online nights of programmes. Among the guests are the McKeaney singing sisters Anna, Mary, Peggy, Rosie and Kathleen; John Moulden (Antrim); on accordion Grainne Smith (Cavan); Laurence Nugent (Fermanagh) on flute and whistle; Uilleann piper Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn (Monaghan); Sinead Finnegan on fiddle (Monaghan), and singer Cathal Lynch (Tyrone).

Music man Martin Donohoe says the programme takes into account where we are with a mix of live and file recordings: “We are using archival material from 2012 concerts in Cavan with Dog Big Dog Little group, which included the late Ben Lennon and fiddler Tommy Peoples. We also have an interview with Cavan’s Kevin McDermott of Owen Roe Terrace in Cavan and Wexford.”

TRADFLIX 2021 promises to be one of the most interesting and comprehensive cultural responses to COVID-19 nationwide and among the Irish diaspora. Organised by NYAH group, it taps into the 21 years of experience in festival planning. NYAH Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branch members have operated throughout the COVID-19 restrictions with online zoom classes, recitals and concerts on the internet to the delight of thousands of fans across the globe.

“Our NYAH live events been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 15 months but the new guidelines will allow us to hold 10, two-hour master classes in Ulster music and song with five students per workshop on instruments and songs in Cavan venues,” Martin explained. The master class workshop will cost €20 per student.

“We also have free open air group workshop in mixed instruments,” the NYAH coordinator said.

To book or to find out more contact cavanmusiclive@gmail.com all booking will be on a first come basis due to COVID-19 restrictions.