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KILFENORA is staging its fourth annual music festival from Thursday, April 26 to Monday, April 30. The organising committee this week announced details of the 2012 festival, which promises a feast of set dancing and the legendary Kilfenora pub sessions.
Contributing to the village’s uniqueness are a web of local families, who have played in groups and céilí bands for around 140 years, starting with a fife and drum band in the 1870s and brass and reed band in the 1900s.
Kilfenora’s most famous céilí band celebrated its centenary in 2009 and will be appearing at home to launch their latest CD, Chapter 8. This was produced by Kevin Crawford and features Galway singer Don Stiffe, finalist in the All-Ireland Talent Show.
The main events in this year’s festival included an open-air céilí with the Kilfenora Céilí Band and guests in the Square at which they will launch their latest CD; a concert with the legendary Four Men & a Dog; a céilí with Michael Sexton; a céilí with the Abbey Céilí Band; further céilís with the Four Courts Band, starring various celebrated local musicians; Aifreann Traidisiúnta, mass with traditional music and, instrumental and singing sessions in the village pubs throughout the weekend, with many fine musicians from North Clare and beyond, including numerous All-Ireland winners.
Tickets for the céilís and concert are available on the door at the venues. All other events are free.
As a warm-up for the festival, RTE radio 1’s Céilí House broadcast on Saturday, April 7 comes from Linnane’s Pub, Kilfenora and features the Kilfenora Céilí Band, together with other local musicians and singers.
