Bringing back musical memories

THE director of Cois na hAbhna, Ennis has described how the recent Fleadh Cheoil an Chláir, held in Kilfenora at the heart of the Burren, evoked memories of the glory days of the great Clare fleadhs.
Among the great county fleadhs, Joe O’Connor listed were, Miltown Malbay in  1957 and 1961, Tulla in  1958, Lisdoonvarna in 1959, Kilrush in 1960 and Scariff in 1962 .
“When the Kilfenora Band performed in a never to be forgotten open air concert on Sunday afternoon the village of Kilfenora came to a virtual standstill as hundreds gathered in the blissfull June sunshine to experience the essence of the might of the thing that has given us birth. Sets were danced, songs were sung, Gerry Lynch of the old Kilfenora was on stage representing the musicians who made the Kilfenora famous throughout the world,” he commented.
He added that the sessions in Nagles, Linnanes and Vaughans into the small hours throughout the weekend were described by one who has attended several All Ireland fleadhanna down through the years as being “half an All-Ireland Fleadh”
He said that the Clare County Board chairman and Fleadh chairman John Morgan and his committee are to be complimented on hosting one of the best County Fleadhanna of recent years. “The singers session in Linnanes on Friday night brought together some of the finest traditional singers from Roscommon, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary, Cork, Kerry and Clare. It will be remembered as one of the great fleadhs,” he said.
He also remarked that credit must be given to Kilmihil, Tulla and Kilfenora who over the past four years have contributed to restoring the Clare Fleadh to its rightful place.