Ennis to bid for Fleadh na hÉireann 2012

ENNIS is to make a bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2012.
According to Frank Whelan, cathaoirleach of Cois na hAbhna in Ennis, a meeting of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann last week decided they would try and get traditional music’s biggest competitive festival back to the Banner County.
“The last time Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was in Ennis was 1977. Of course, people always remember the 1956 fleadh in Ennis too, which will be famous forever because of Robbie McMahon’s song – The Fleadh down in Ennis,” Mr Whelan said.
He added that this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is being held in Cavan, where it is most likely to be held again next year. “Usually the fleadh stays in the one place for two years. So our next opportunity to host it would be 2012. The next step in preparing our bid for it is to get the support of local businesses and agencies. We all feel that support will be very strong. It would be a massive boost to the local town and in our eyes, Ennis is a great venue for the event, with such a strong traditional music and dance base here already and wonderful venues,” he commented.
He remarked that there is something special about a fleadh in Ennis. “Because there is such a strong local tradition of music in Ennis and the whole county, the fleadh really fits in very well here. The 1977 fleadh was used as a template for others for many years, such was its success,” he added.
He said that the idea of bidding for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann came up a number of times over the years but it was never pursued.
“For one reason or another, the momentum was never there but it really is now. It would be a massive financial boost to the whole area. It was in Tullamore for the past three years and it’s estimated that it brought about €20 million to the local economy each year. Ennis could well do with that,” Mr Whelan remarked.