Cuckoo set to sing a merry tune in Kinvara

Kinvara is gearing up for its 20th Fleadh na gCuach or Cuckoo Fleadh which organisers say “will be one of the biggest and best yet”. The festival, which takes place from Friday to Monday,  was the brainchild of local man, Tony Moylan.

More than 40 arranged sessions, featuring top traditional musicians, in the pubs and cafes of the village as well as musical activities for children, puppet shows with the renowned ‘Yer Man’s Puppets’, a concert featuring visiting traditional musicians from Brittany and a gala family concert performed by the award-winning Coole Music Orchestrawill be among the highlights. Other events include the Cuckoo Fun Run and a 10km sponsored walk.

One of the highlights of this year’s Fleadh na gCuach is a Twinning Concert, which will take place in the community centre on the Saturday night of the fleadh to welcome more than 30 Breton visitors.

Kinvara is twinned with Locoal Mendon in Brittany and the concert will feature traditional musicians from Locoal Mendon; bringing the sound of the bombarde and binou of Brittany to Kinvara.

A new feature of Fleadh na gCuach this year is the introduction of a Café Trail, where music will be heard in the four different cafes in the village.

Fleadh na gCuach has also been renowned for the quality of its eye-catching poster and this year is no different. Over the years many well-known artists within the community have designed the poster and this year, young artists have been ­highlighted with the colourful poster featuring the collective art work of the children in fifth class in St. Joseph’s National School. Posters will be on sale throughout the village and there will be an exhibition of the children’s original works over the weekend.

Two musical events for children will take place on Saturday in Johnston’s Hall. From 2pm to 3pm, multi-instrumentalist, Jimmy Fitzgerald of the Máimín Cajun Band fame, will present a Cuckoo Musical Extravaganza for the four to eight-year-old age group, where he will lead the children on a musical and singing journey.

Following this, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, Jimmy will give an instrumental workshop for young players. All instruments are welcome from saxophones to fiddles to guitars.

On Sunday afternoon, also in Johnston’s Hall, children will have the chance to attend The Musical Menagerie – a puppet show with a difference and a musical theme. The show combines the musical imagination of Boris Hunka (multi-instrumentalist, improviser and composer) with the skills of puppeteer and actor Thomas Baker.

“Demand is always high for the Cuckoo puppet shows but don’t worry if you don’t get in to the first one, as there will be a second performance of the The Musical Menagerie directly after the first one.

This will also facilitate any children who wish to take part in the Cuckoo Fun Run and sponsored 10km walk, which also takes place on the Sunday with all funds raised going towards repaying the outstanding loan for the refurbishment of the local ­community centre,” explained Máire O’Keeffe.

Registration for this event and for the children’s 2km run will take place at the community centre from 11am with the children’s run starting at midday. The Cuckoo Fun Run/family 10km walk starts at 1pm.

On Sunday evening, at 6pm, Coole Music and Arts will present a gala family concert in Kinvara Community Centre. Coole Music concerts are always a special occasion but especially when they are held in Kinvara.