The only show in town! Fleadh 2011

Launched on Monday evening, our 'even bigger and better' Fleadh got off to a 'craicing' start - but there's extra cause to celebrate for 16-year-old Jamie Strappe and another teen trad fan Miceál Mullen. Jamie from Drangan in Co. Tipperary who came to Cavan with his parents as well as aunts, uncles and cousins, was a Fleadh-baby - born during the All-Ireland Fleadh in Clonmel in 1994. His mum, Susan, is a fiddle player, but Fleadh or no Fleadh, she couldn't fiddle the date her son would arrive into the world. "It'll be 17 years ago on August 28th. I knew I was due at any time but I went along to the Fleadh anyway. I was playing at the session on the Friday night and on the Saturday night and then I had Jamie in Clonmel hospital on the Sunday night," says proud mum. "And he's still trouble now," jokes his aunt. Jamie, who plays concertina says the Fleadh is "good oul' fun". "I like it because I meet up with all my friends. We hang out and play, look around for a session and see what happens," he says. Special fleadh for Miceál The Anglo-Celt also met up with Miceál Mullen at the Rugby Club campsite. He came to Cavan from Killeavy in Co. Armagh with his parents Eddie and Marian. Miceál was seriously ill when he attended last year's Fleadh in Cavan but has since had a successful kidney transplant and is back stronger and fitter than ever and set to compete with his friends Eoin and Cathal Murphy in the trio competitions. "It is extra special," explains dad, Eddie, explaining how Miceál made it to last year's event against the odds. "He had a perforated appendix and was in intensive care in Belfast. He got out of hospital a week before the Fleadh. We didn't think he'd make it to the Fleadh but with all his friends texting him to see how he was, he made it over on the Thursday night, competed in the All-Ireland and played on the Gig Rig with his friends, a group called The Fleadh Mates." This year, however, it's a healthier Miceál who was mid-session with his friends, Eoin and Cathal, Joseph McNulty and James McKenna, when The Anglo-Celt met him in his parents' camper van on Monday. "Last November he got a kidney transplant from his older brother Edward," says the proud dad, telling of how Miceál got a medal for archery in the Transplant Games in Belfast just last week. "He never was fit to play any sport as he grew up because of his kidney problem, but he got fourth in archery, so that's not bad. It's a very special year, even to be competing in the Fleadh after all he went through. We're delighted to be here," agree Eddie and Marian. Marian says the Fleadh experience is "lovely". "There's great friendship and camaraderie. The youngsters are watching out for friends they haven't seen all year apart from Facebook... the fun of meeting up and sharing tunes." Miceál, who plays banjo, whistle and flute in the Ring Of Gullion Comhaltas branch, says: "I love Fleadhs. I really do." He was spending the rainy afternoon in the camper van playing tunes. "We went into the town today to see what was happening. There was a few sessions, but we didn't have our instruments so we'll have to go back with them this evening."