Carrick to come alive for Trad Fest

Veronica Corr

Awareness of the blind harper Patrick Byrne (born in Magheracloone circa 1784), was dramatically increased when the traditional Irish music festival bearing his name was founded 20 years ago in Carrickmacross, Cllr Noel Keelan (SF) commented, congratulating Séan Ó Roirdeáin, Féile Patrick Byrne’s artistic director last week.

Séan was at the civic offices to tell Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District about plans for this year’s festival, from March 25-29. The festival came about when musician Finian McCluskey was struck by inspiration, having attended a trad fest Séan hosted in Carlingford in 2006. Féile Patrick Byrne was born in 2007.

The idea was to bring traditional music tutors to Carrick to teach over a weekend. The concept has grown and today Carrickmacross Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) facilitates 200 young people attending weekly music and singing classes. Now, the festival programme boasts workshops including tin whistle, flute, banjo, accordion and fiddle, taught by accomplished tutors. Workshops in instruments, sean nós and set dancing will all take place in Inver College on the Saturday of the festival.

The programme will be officially launched at the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen, on February 21 and will feature Dónal O’Connor, Mary Dillon and Neil Martin.

During the festival itself there will be performances from well-known trad and folk acts including Téada, Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta and The Swallow’s Tail Céilí Band. Seán himself will launch his new three track EP ‘What About Ya?’, at the opening night in the Shirley Arms when Cavan’s Martin Donohoe will also perform. Seán told the meeting that he was “songwriting as he spoke".

The artistic director was looking forward to seeing Carrick’s Irish Language choir, Glór na Carraige performing at St Finbarr’s Church on Friday, March 27, providing support to Seamus and Caoimhe.

Festival headliners Téada will light up the stage on Saturday night, alongside Carrickmacross World Choir at the hall in St Louis Secondary School. Seán thanked Monaghan Volunteer Centre for their support. Carrickmacross World Choir brings together migrants and the local community to promote integration and friendship through song.

Seán thanked Cllr P.J. O’Hanlon, who is Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Co Council, whom he met with officials previously. Féile Patrick Byrne will take place in various venues throughout the town and Seán acknowledged the various sponsors.

Monaghan County Fleadh

Carrickmacross, he revealed, will also host Monaghan County Fleadh over the June Bank Holiday weekend, coinciding with Carrickmacross Street Festival.

“In the longer term we hope to host the Ulster Fleadh, which will raise the profile of trad music and this living tradition,” Seán said.

Councillors congratulated Seán on his presentation. Cllr O’Hanlon said that the fleadh and fesival would be both economically and culturally beneficial to the host town.

Cllr Colm Carthy (SF) praised how Féile Patrick Byrne had grown significantly to include schools and other cultures and traditions.

“Féile Patrick Byrne is now part of the cultural diary in Carrickmacross. The acts are more far reaching and sponsorship has taken it to a new level,” Cllr Peter Conlon (FG) observed.

Sinn Féin’s Noel Keelan observed the impact the festival had over 20 years and paid tribute to the musician who inspired it.

Patrick Byrne, the blind harper, was famous both nationally and internationally. Some people didn’t know he existed, but the festival brought him back to the public conscious.

“Patrick Byrne is buried in the Old Famine Graveyard, also known as Bully’s Acre in Carrickmacross, along with so many others.

The respectful way in which the Feile Patrick Byrne committee honoured his memory ensured that his legacy would endure,” Cllr. Keelan observed.

Cllr Aidan Campbell (FG) congratulated the committee saying that 20 years is a long time to keep a festival alive. He remembered Seán’s late wife and how invested the couple were in upholding musical traditions.

Cathaoirleach Gibbons concluded by pledging the MD’s support to this and other festivals in the locality, which boost tourism, as well as enhancing community and cultural identity.