Town throws itself into Trad Fest

THIS year’s Ennis Trad Festival will be an opportunity for people to forget all about doom and gloom and throw themselves into the festivities and enjoy the top-class entertainment on offer, according to the festival director, John Rynne.

“Ennis Trad Festival is of huge significance to the county. In a cultural context, it contributes to the wealth of County Clare by facilitating the celebration of our identity, our heritage and our tradition. It reaffirms the county’s status as a hotbed of traditional music – that we play host to so many visitors from around the country, as well as the broad reaches of the globe, is a testimony to that fact,” he said.
He paid tribute to those who have gone before us, “who minded the music, kept it intact and passed it on to us so that we can revel in it, transmit it to the new generations and keep it alive, well and very much at home in Ennis, County Clare”.
“Whilst the resource of traditional music in the county is in a fit and healthy state, it cries out for the loud expression Ennis Trad Festival provides,” Mr Rynne added.
He also commented that the importance of Ennis Trad Festival is “ever-increasing in this straitened economic climate”.
“I am proud to support our local businesses, our vintners, hoteliers and all those who will benefit, we hope, from the influx of visitors to the town over the five days of the festival. It is, without doubt, critical to our town’s survival that we embrace all occasions where we can work together to the collective benefit of our great town.”
He expressed his appreciation for the continued co-operation, support and significant goodwill the committee has received from the hoteliers and vintners, allowing them to organise this mammoth event.
“We are also proud that Guinness have renewed their sponsorship of this year’s festival. In addition, the continued support from Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council has added to the scope of the festival thus allowing us to stage even more quality events,” the director remarked.
Mr Rynne pointed out that Ennis Trad Festival is a community-based event and takes place through the gargantuan efforts of its dedicated volunteers and financial supporters.
“Of course, the festival is also the product of the myriad of unbilled musicians, singers and dancers who happily lend their art to the cause,” he added.
He said there are a number of things that make the Ennis Trad Festival so special and remain very popular.
“We always go out of our way to provide a great standard of music during the festival, and this year is no different. One of the things that makes Ennis Trad Festival so special is wall-to-wall music.
“While the headline acts are excellent, all of the sessions around the town also include top class musicians, who themselves could perform as headline acts. Sessions will be held on Thursday, Friday and Monday evening, and on Saturday from 3pm and Sunday from 2pm in pubs throughout Ennis. During these times there will be continuous music.
“The other thing that makes Ennis Trad Festival brilliant is the crowd that come for it. They are always a great crowd, fun loving, so enthusiastic about the music and the level of friendship and camraderie is amazing. Now that the festival is in its 17th year, there have been Ennis Trad Festival couples, marriages and children, as well as many, many long-term strong friendships,” he said.
Ennis Trad Festival starts this Thursday evening in the Old Ground Hotel at 6.30pm and events will take place until Monday night. For further information including a full list of sessions, concerts, workshops and other events see www.ennistradfestival.com.