Meet the fleadh-goers

Maria Doolan (17) and Grainne Egan (18) both from Raheny, Dublin have never been to Cavan before. They're camping in the Rugby Club campsite until next Sunday or Monday with a gang of about 30 or 40 friends, girls and boys... separate tents! They play with Ceoltóirí Cluain Tarbh, who are competing in the céilí band competition. Maria has been coming to fleadhanna every year since she was about ten. "The campsite is really nice and very well organised. It's big and the facilities are very good. Everyone is really nice. We went down to the town last night and a group of us were playing tunes in the Black Horse. We made our pasta outside our tent. We usually do that, have our lie-in and then just kind of mosey around in our pyjamas for a few hours and then head into the town like we are now to get some more food," says Maria. Says Grainne: "This is my second fleadh; last year I was in Tullamore. It's my first time camping and it's working out really well. Usually the sessions, the nights out playing music are good fun and seeing all the people we usually see at the festivals. Cavan's lovely so far." • Brendan McDonagh and Jim McCorry are two of three Belfast men who brought their camper van to the Rugby Club campsite. They go to All-Ireland Fleadhanna when their wives let them away! "For long and many years we've been coming to the All-Ireland Fleadh, also to lots of county and provincial fleadhs. We don't compete, we just play a bit of music around the pubs and sometimes on the site itself, just for the craic," says Brendan. "We arrived yesterday (Sunday) and it was beautiful - we got Cavan town's summer! The site is excellent, the amenities are first class and the people are lovely. We have been down around the town and found nothing but friendliness. As far as prices are concerned, it's competitive." "We came down in March because we were unsure that the Cavan people realised what was going to land on them. We thought at that stage they don't really appreciate what's going to hit them. But actually, they really have pulled everything off, they're really making an effort and fair play, it really is a credit to them," says Jim. • Zohra Coday (15), St. Louis, Missouri, US, developed an interest in Irish music through a teacher and doesn't have Irish connections that she's aware of. She travelled with her music group from America and is staying in the apartments near Scoil Éigse and attending classes there. "I wanted to start Irish music when I was five, but I didn't start till I was going into the fourth grade. I like it. It's fun. It's a nice town. I'm looking forward to the grúpa ceol competition." • Mícheál Ó Grálaigh came from Galway city with his sons, Ronán and Mícheál Óg, regular fleadh-goers. "I think for kids it's a fantastic social outlet. It's a very safe and stimulating interest. It brings them into a world of accomplishment and improvement, it's an artform so it's fantastic for their personal development. It's an education all in itself. I'd almost regard it as important as any other aspect of their education or of their sports and social development as kids. Another thing is that Scoil Éigse offers kids who show a bit of promise a great opportunity to make a step forward in terms of their level of playing. "It's a fantastic concept, bringing people together who have a common interest and want to advance the music. I went to Scoil Éigse in 1979 in Listowel and what's happened in the 30 years since is phenomenal in term of the standard of players and the music went from being something that was a marginal artform to being centre-stage all over the world. We're staying with friends in Ballyhaise. It's the first time in a long time I've had a chance to get back to Cavan but I have the good fortune of having friends here so it's a great opportunity to renew acquaintances. "The town looks fantastic and full praise to Martin Gaffney, PRO. When he started out with his promotional work he was so enthusiastic and he's carried it through. "Also the fiddle-neck sculpture on the way into town is absolutely superb; it's quirky, it's nice, it really sets a lovely tone for the week." • Louis McAuliffe, a native of Killarney living in London for the last 25 years came over especially with daughters Brogan and Orlaith for Scoil Éigse and the All-Ireland Fleadh. They're staying with friends in Lisnaskea. Brogan (14) has been over four times for All Ireland. "I'm looking forward to the sessions at night," she comments. "It's my first time in Cavan and I like it so far. It's smaller than Tullamore but it seems good. I'm looking forward to some of the lectures and the concerts," says Orlaith. • Bart Gavin travelled from Sligo with his wife, Margaret McConnell, and their three children, who are attending Scoil Éigse. Margaret is a native of Co. Cavan but hasn't lived here in about 20 years. "It's interesting to come back to an event like this. It's early days as we just arrived last night, but I'm very impressed. It looks like there's been a big effort made around the town. The local people seem to be really excited by it and have opened their arms to it. They seem to have a lot of fringe events here and the programme is very good," says Margaret. "The point nowadays is that economies that are strong build aspects of their economies on their distinctiveness. We have now come to that realisation in this country that we need to grow what we are strong and unique in and here is the manifestation of it. When you see that €30 million spent in this area in the next week, that demonstrates the opportunity that there is in it," says Bart. "What is very apparent about Cavan is the effort that has been put into the town. It's a real credit to the people of the town and the local authorities and people who have organised the fleadh."