Fleadh na gCuach takes flight in Kinvara

The annual Fleadh na gCuach (Cuckoo Fleadh) will take place from this Friday to Monday, May 2, in Kinvara. This long established festival is in its 18th year and is the kick-start to the summer for the people of South Galway and North Clare.
This year’s festival will have the usual mix of traditional music sessions, singing sessions, set dancing and poetry readings.
Musicians this year include Siobhán Peoples, Murt Ryan, Tara Breen, Charlie Harris, Alan Kelly, Liam Lewis, Josephine Marsh, Angelina Carberry, Manus McGuire, Gary O’Briain, Paraic Keane, Des Mulchair, Oisin MacDiarmada, Paul Finn, Mary Shannon, Mary Staunton, Bobby Gardiner, Eoin O’Neill, Andrew McNamara, Tom Cussen and Dermot Byrne to name but a few. There will also be musical activities and a puppet show for children. The Glenside Ceilí band will provide the music for The Cuckoo Ceilí in Kinvara Community Centre on Saturday April 30 at 10pm for what organisers say will be a fantastic night.
“Things have picked up a bit in Kinvara since April but it was a long winter with very bad weather so we are hoping for a good weekend. We have had lots of inquiries so far, and lots of people come back every year from Clare or Galway or South Galway and with the number of calls we are getting looking for accommodation, there is already a great buzz about it,” said Olga Vaughan of Connolly’s in Kinvara.
“We are really encouraging people to come along and spend the weekend up here. It is the start of the season and it looks like it will be a sunny weekend so all systems are go and with so many talented musicians, this weekend is really one not to be missed,” Olga commented.
Thursday night will see a slideshow in Burrenbeo Trust at 8.30pm on Thursday night. Bird expert and wildlife photographer/presenter John Murphy will give a slideshow on cuckoos and other birds in the area.
Friday evening at 7pm the official opening of Fleadh na gCuach takes place at Murphy’s Store on the Quay. There will be music by Peter Parsons, Anthony McGrath and Brian McGrath and Eilish O’Connor of the O’Connor family from Dundalk will launch the Fleadh. Eilish is an accomplished and respected musician and now lives in Kinvara.
Kinvara Primary Schools’ Art Project will be exhibited outdoors, on The Quay during the Festival. A trophy is to be awarded on the opening night, to the best entry.
The Naked Truth exhibition by Ciara Malone will be opened in Tully’s by Jim McKee.
The poster for this year’s festival was designed by local artist, Mark Dwyer. The original painting can be seen in Connolly’s window and will be raffled with tickets available from Connolly’s or Murphy’s Store on opening night. Mark Dwyer will sign posters between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday in Connolly’s.
Sunday’s big event is the Cuckoo Fun Run and sponsored 10km walk. Registration is at midday at the pier starting at 1pm.
“This summer the Community Council hopes to start the second phase of renovations to the Community Centre. This is the only fundraiser for the on-going works so please come along and support it. Sponsorship cards will be given out in advance and anyone without a card is asked to make a contribution,” Olga outlined.
Your Man’s Puppets will present The Circus Stachamoose at 3pm on Johnston’s Hall on Sunday. This new show introduces theatrical delights from the intrepid Stachamoose brothers, who hail from the mist-shrouded Orient. These suspiciously similar looking brothers display an energetic mix of physical comedy and manual dexterity using a nicely balanced blend of mischievous humour and accomplished puppetry skills. There will be a second show at 4.15pm, if there is the demand and children must be accompanied by an adult.
For teenagers Sunday night features an open mic session in Johnston’s Hall allowing young people to take to the stage to perform songs, tunes and poetry.
Events will take place in Connolly’s Bar, Conole’s Bar, Fahy’s of Nogra, Flatley’s pub, Green’s, Keogh’s, the Merriman Hotel, the Pier Head, Sexton’s and Tully’s over the course of the weekend.
Details of this year’s events are available from Kinvara.com.