Festival enjoys the sweet sound of success

ENNIS was ablaze with music over the weekend as the 17th Ennis Trad Festival gripped the town for five days of non-stop tunes. From Thursday evening, it swept through the town, gaining momentum over the weekend with its final melodic embers flickering into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

By all accounts, the festival organisers are happy with the huge turnout to all events.
“We’ve enjoyed the very best of traditional music over the last five days,” according to festival director John Rynne. “The cream of musical talent in Ireland and far beyond mark the Ennis Trad Festival on their calendars each year and we’re truly delighted that in the face of our country’s economic woes, people are still prepared to come to Ennis for the festival and support some of the best acts at our concerts. Yet again, we’ve had many visitors from overseas who plan their annual holiday around Ennis Trad Festival. I’ve spoken to quite a few who spend a week in Ennis and who then tour around the county for another week – that’s a major boost to the local economy and we’re thrilled that in some way, we can facilitate that.
“We had a full house in Glór from early on Saturday night for the Árd Ghaisce na mBuíonta – the Great Céilí Band Competition, which was won by local band The Tulla Road Céilí Band. We also had unprecedented numbers at our instrument workshops, the numbers at our late-night concerts were up from last year and the local hoteliers and vintners are very happy overall with the weekend trade,” he added.