The official opening of the Fleadh Cheoil in Belturbet in June 1979..jpg

Fleadh Cheoil an Cabhán back in Belturbet after 40 years

Belturbet is up to high doh as they have pulled out all the stops in their preparations to host Fleadh Cheoil an Cabhán this weekend. Scroll down for detailed timetables

Ann Grogan the chairperson of the the organising committee for Fleadh Cheoil an Cabhán, Belturbet.
There has been a lot of work undertaken in the run up to the event: “The Tidy Towns committee have made sure that the town is looking its best. They have been painting and cleaning to make sure people get a good impression of Belturbet. The town is looking fabulous,” Anne told the Celt.
The chairperson said there is great excitement about the festival: “It’s 40 years since we had the last Fleadh in Belturbet, that was in 1979. Obviously there have been huge changes in the town since then.
“We have a wonderful programme of events planned for people who are attending. Something for everyone,” she said.

Check out some of our photos from the fleadh 40 years ago:

Official opening
The official opening is taking place on Friday May 31. There will be set and ceilie dancing on Friday evening and Maggie’s Cistín Mór will be the place to be. On Saturday the music and singing competitions will be running from 11:30am-6pm.

Of course the event will bring a lot of colour to the town: “There will be food and craft stalls on the streets on Saturday. At 6:30 there will be registration for the children’s busking competition. That will be on the Main Street from 7:00am to 7:45am. We have a huge ceili on Saturday with the Copperplate Ceili Band. As well as that there will be sessions in all the pubs around town,” Ann outlined.
On Sunday the programmes commence with the traditional mass: “Then the competitions will run form 11:30am to 6:00pm. We will also have the street traders on Sunday. Then at 6:00pm the Ceili Mor will take place on the streets. There will be Sean Nós dancing, a broom dance, flamenco dancing and and other ethnic dancing. It is important to recognise the diversity of our country.”
Seán Ó Sé’s concert on Sunday will take place in the Civic Centre. This is something that a lot of traditional music enthusiasts will be looking forward to : “It’s a big deal. He is quite famous. There will be a number of big names taking part over the weekend as performers and adjudicators including Madeline Markey, Pauric Synott, Malachy Bourke and Aisling McPhillips.”
Other highlights will include the photographic exhibition, McNeela’s music shop, Maggie’s Cistin Mor, events by project Belturbet and the Belturbet walkers, the seomra gaeilge and the Gig Rig. Music, fun and craic will be the order of the weekend as the town welcomes the festival of music and culture back after a four decade absence.

COMPETITIONS FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SATURDAY