Fleadh in full swing

WITH the sun shining in Ennis this week, visitors to the town are lapping up the 36th Fleadh Nua. By day and by night, people are flocking to experience the best of traditional music, set dancing and atmosphere that the fleadh brings with it.

Events for this year’s fleadh started last Sunday in Cois na hAbhna, at the official opening of the festival, which paid special tribute to the Corofin Teach Ceoil.
Throughout the week, hotels, bars and restaurants have had a steady flow of customers, all in town to share in the Fleadh Nua. Hotels in the town are reporting good occupancy rates, while restaurants have been steadily busy all week. It is envisaged that business will increase more towards the weekend, with many coming to share in some of the main highlights of the fleadh.
Since Monday, there have been a good choice of events to enjoy, including a daily music session in cafés around town, as well as free lunchtime Riches of Clare concerts in the County Museum. Frank Custy has also facilitated the foinn seisiún each day in the Old Ground Hotel. The Fleadh Club, featuring a number of different musicians, has been held in Cois na hAbhna each night at 9pm.
This year’s Fleadh Nua features performances of some of the best musical talent from Clare and around Ireland with events also planned to pay tribute to the people and places that have shaped the festival throughout its history.
The highlight of the fleadh is set to be the celebrity concert this Saturday, which will feature musicians who performed at the Aos Óg concerts in the ’70s.
As in previous years, set dancers have plenty to enjoy during the fleadh week, with céilís every night in various locations around town. The Tulla Céilí Band will lead proceedings in the Old Ground Hotel this Thursday night, with the Abbey Céilí Band providing the music for the céilí in Cois na hAbhna on Friday night.
One of the aims of this year’s festival is to increase accessibility to and visibility of traditional arts, which is being achieved through the Riches of Clare lunchtime concerts in the County Museum. In addition, a full programme of street entertainment will take place on Saturday and Sunday involving performances on the gig rig, cosán ceoil/music trail and open-air céilí – with some wrenboys and pipe bands thrown in for good measure.
For a full list of Fleadh Nua events, see www.fleadhnua.com.