Organisers hope for a busy Fleadh na gCuach

This weekend’s Fleadh na gCuach will provide a vital revenue boost for businesses and service providers in Kinvara after what has been described as “the worst winter ever” for tourist-dependent companies in the area.
This is the 17th year of the festival, which officially begins on Friday evening and continues through to Monday. 
“This year’s festival will be more important than ever. It will be a welcome boost coming out of what has been a very bad season for us,” said Olga Vaughan from Connolly’s Pub, who is one of the festival organisers.
“For South Galway and North Clare, the fleadh is the start of the summer season. Now more than ever we need this. Between floods and frost we had the worst winter. From a business aspect, people need to get cash flowing and from a community perspective, people are dying to get out and enjoy themselves, listen to some music  and get some positivity going,” Olga addded.
This year’s festival starts with a talk on the titular hero of the festival, the cuckoo, by Gordon D’Arcy in the Burrenbeo Trust Centre on Thursday evening.
The official launch of the festival takes place the following day at Murphy’s Store on the Quay before an album launch by Jimmy Fitzgerald in Johnstons’ Hall.
On Saturday, there are activities for children beginning at 11am as well as the opening of the Jim McKee Empty Pockets painting exhibition at the Russell Gallery in New Quay.
Saturday night will also feature A Haven of Song, a songwriters-in-the-round fundraiser for Haiti.
On Sunday, there will be a cake sale and a variety show before a heron dinghy race is launched from the slipway and an open-mic event in Johnston’s Hall for teenagers.
The festival closes on Monday with a poets’ brunch, singers session and music in the Pier Head and Connolly’s Pub.
“Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include Gerry O’Connor, Martin Quinn and John Faulkner on Friday night. There is a singing session on Saturday afternoon with Rosie Stewart and Joe Mulheron and that should be very enjoyable. There is a Donegal fiddle night on the Saturday night with Martin McGinley, Siobhán Peoples and Paul O’Shaughnessy. We also have a céilí on Saturday night with the Four Courts Céilí Band and there is a set-dancing workshop all day on Saturday with Tony Ryan, so people can learn during the day and practise at night. On Sunday night, Cora Smith, Tony Small and Jacky Small perform and that should be very good,” Olga said.
While there are a number of other festivals taking place around the country, this weekend organisers are confident the fleadh will attract a large crowd.
“There is a special atmosphere at Fleadh na gCuach. Kinvara is a special location. This is the 17th year of the festival so it is well established and it never fails to deliver,” Olga concluded. 
Also happening in Kinvara this weekend is the Cuckoo Run. Owen Flatley will defend the perpetual trophy at the 10km race being held on Sunday.
As well as offering some competition, it is also a fun run for families, with others choosing to walk the event. It will be marshalled and supervised and starts at 1pm. Those taking part can register at the pier from 12.30pm onwards.
As well as the trophy, there are prizes for the first man, woman and young person home and a raffle prize for runners who have been sponsored.
Sponsorship cards are available from any member of the community council.
For further information on the race, contact Maria on 091 637900. All funds raised go to the ongoing improvements to the community centre.
Festival programmes can be downloaded on www.kinvara.com/cuckoo.