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A CAMPAIGN to bring Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann back to Ennis for the first time in over three decades, with a possible financial boost of €30 million to the county, kicked off at the weekend. Members of a local working group, who are aiming to host the fleadh in the town in 2012, made a presentation, putting forward their ideas before Comhaltas Ceóltoirí Éireann.
If successful in their bid, the town will play host to an estimated 200,000 music lovers next year. The presentation saw a large attendance from all agencies and sectors of the community, coming together to bring the fleadh back to Ennis for the first time since 1977.
The bid has already received support from, amongst others, local authorities, the GAA, gardaí and Shannon Development, along with high-profile musicians such as Noel Hill, Martin Hayes and Maura O’Connell.
Among the proposals outlined at the presentation is a plan to roll out pedestrianisation in the town during the fleadh. This proposal has already met with the approval of Ennis Town Council and local emergency services.
Already, 25 venues within the heart of Ennis have been identified as venues for the fleadh, with plans in place to make the offices of Clare County Council the fleadh headquarters.
According to the working group behind the bid, the Irish Hotels’ Federation and local hoteliers have already committed to ensuring the hosting of competitions would be to the highest standard.
Other venues, including community halls, are also being investigated. The Showgrounds has been identified as an ideal venue for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Céilí Band competition, with an anticipated capacity of 1,500.
While Ennis will be the host town, organisers are hoping that all visitors to the fleadh will take in all the county has to offer with their Share Clare campaign.
The presentation heard the Ennis group aims to make this the first totally accessible fleadh, with statistics showing that 10% of the population is registered as having a disability.
Micheal Ó Riabhaigh, chairman of the working group stated, “We are committed to having a fleadh where disability will not prevent anyone from attending or participating in any event on the programme. We will have a specific sub-committee with responsibility for ensuring all facilities, personnel and services will be in place to meet this commitment.”
The fleadh committee isalso committed to the strong presence of the Irish language should the fleadh come to Ennis. If successful in its bid, it is proposed that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2012 in Ennis will incorporate the latest social media, mobile and location-based technology.
The specially created website will be optimised for social media sharing. Fleadh Cheoil 2012 will also engage with online communities, commission mobile apps as well as publishing podcasts.
According to Mr Ó Riabhaigh, “Information technology now plays a huge part in all our lives and we have devised a number of ideas to make the best use of the latest phone and internet applications giving instant access to fleadh information not just to the iPod generation at the fleadh itself but also to a worldwide audience on the internet.”
It is estimated it will cost in the region of €700,000 to host the fleadh, with potential revenue from sponsors as well as revenue from door receipts and programme sales. A sub group is currently working on securing sponsorship commitments. The working group estimates it will need to raise €200,000 from other sources, principally corporate. The goal is to get commitments for funding for a total of €170,000, 85% of the target, by the end of June this year. Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council have already allocated €40,000 from their budgets for 2011 to support Fleadh Cheoil in Clare. It is intended that a similar amount will be set aside in 2012 and 2013 should the application be successful.
The working group was established last year after it was unanimously agreed at a special meeting of the Abbey Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to apply to host the fleadh in 2012.
According to Mr Ó Riabhaigh, “Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the most important event in the traditional music calendar… A great deal of groundwork has been completed already, especially in the areas of venues and accommodation. We have approached the challenge of funding by establishing a sub-group of very experienced professionals working on a strategy that we are confident will secure sponsorship commitments from small business and corporate sector to meet our overall requirements.”
Chairman of the Abbey Branch of Comhaltas, Risteard Ó Conaill added that while much has changed since the fleadh was last in Ennis in 1977, “our cultural tradition has continued to blossom”.
“Ennis has also moved with the times and with recent infrastructural developments in the county, we can now offer a location steeped in tradition but with great access and facilities to cope with the huge international event which Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has become,” he stated.
Séamus Ó Lideadha, chairman of the Clare County Board of CCÉ commented they are “overjoyed” with the news an application was being made to host the fleadh in the town. “It was felt that it was very appropriate to welcome the fleadh back to Ennis after a lapse of 35 years. Clare has proven its ability to organise major national events,” he said.
Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin has also lent his support to the campaign. “Clare County Council strongly supports the bid. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the biggest cultural festival in the country at present and I believe that nowhere is more suitable than County Clare, with its rich heritage and love of Irish music, to host such an event… Clare County Council is actively involved with the working group promoting Ennis as a suitable venue for this significant event and if the bid is successful, we guarantee every support and co-operation to help make Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2012 the best fleadh ever.”
Mayor of Ennis, Tommy Brennan added that Ennis Town Council is also strongly behind the bid. “Ennis and County Clare are synonymous with traditional Irish music and Comhaltas Ceóltoirí Éireann has a strong and active network of branches throughout the county. So it is only fitting that Ennis is now proposing to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2012… We do not underestimate the challenges that lie ahead should the town be successful in its bid but the positive response from local authorities, business and voluntary groups to date has been very encouraging and demonstrates a strong unity of purpose.”
Speaking about the presentation, Ennis Town Manager Ger Dollard commented, “There was great energy and enthusiasm in the Council Chamber and the presentation was exceptionally well received by all present and particularly the delegation from Comhaltas Ceóltoirí Éireann. Ennis did what it does best – all sectors of the community coming together and presenting a very strong case for why Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann should be held here in 2012. Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council has set aside funding in its budget for 2011 to assist with the overall costs involved. We hope there will be strong financial support from all sectors if the bid of Ennis is successful,” he concluded.
The decision on who gets to host the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2012 will be made in September. Among other locations bidding for the fleadh are Sligo and Kilkenny.
Clare musicians in support
ENNIS’ bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2012 has already garnered plenty of support with a number of high-profile traditional musicians coming on board with the campaign.
Recent Gradam Ceoil winner Noel Hill commented, “As a musician who has travelled the world, one of the nicest things about meeting people abroad is the familiarity they have with Ennis and County Clare. This is solely attributable to the relationship the county has with traditional Irish music.”
Acclaimed concertina player Edel Fox also lent her support saying, “As a proud Clare musician, I would be delighted to see the 2012 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann come to Ennis. The county is known the world over as the home of traditional music with the capital town of Ennis boasting many fine musicians, venues and pubs, which are internationally associated with music. I feel fortunate to have grown up in County Clare, where our traditional music is an intrinsic part of everyday life.”
While Professor Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, school of Canadian Irish Studies, Concordia University added to the endorsements saying, “Today, Clare is lauded as a transnational Mecca of Irish music, revered by music makers and music lovers in all corners of the globe. It is right and fitting that Ennis be afforded the honour of hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2012. To do so will acknowledge the unique historiography of Clare’s traditional soundscape and underwrite its future for Irish people at home and abroad for generations to come.”
Musician Tara Breen commented, “The All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil is the biggest Irish traditional music event of the year and it would be great to see it returning to the town of Ennis. Clare is at the centre of Irish traditional music and Ennis is at the heart of that tradition.”
