AS the Ennis Trad Festival kicks off this Thursday, the annual event has been credited with enhancing the profile and image of the town, along with bringing a major economic boost.
Welcoming the start of the festival this week, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Michael Guilfoyle commented, “The council recognises the significant economic benefit to the town of this event and the cultural importance and value of this festival.
“The council has seen a positive return from the financial support for the Trad Festival in recent years as the profile and image of the town has been enhanced and the community have benefited from a socio-economic and cultural perspective.”
He went on, “Ennis and County Clare are synonymous with traditional Irish music and the continued success of this festival is an indication of the strength and popularity of traditional music in this county and town. I would like to pay tribute to the festival’s organisers, who have worked hard to prepare an excellent entertainment programme. The festival is an opportunity for musicians to perform and for audiences to appreciate quality traditional Irish entertainment.”
He encouraged visitors to the town to stroll through Ennis’ streets and see what the town has to offer. “I would like to wish the festival organisers continued success and I look forward to more festivals in the coming years. I want to wish all musicians, singers and those attending the festival’s events and sessions an enjoyable and memorable weekend in Ennis.”
This year’s festival runs from this Thursday to next Monday. It has been estimated that the festival is worth up to €1 million to the region as tens of thousands of traditional music fans visit the town.
John Rynne, festival director, commented, “We are especially proud of this year’s festival line-up and we are delighted once again to present a superior cornucopia of all things Irish.”
He added that in these tougher economic times it’s important to embrace and invest our core assets. “In Clare, that is our musical tradition. In times of deep recession and stress it becomes apparent that our ability to cope and the inspiration of our spirits are rejuvenated in the wellspring of our enduring and innate cultural traditions. It is indeed heartening that so many are once again travelling to our proud county town from all over Ireland and the world to support the festival and to share in our rightful celebration of that which makes us good as a nation.
“More than ever Ennis Trad Festival embraces our responsibility, not only in preserving and developing our traditional arts and providing a stage to showcase the very best talent to all but also in presenting the town of Ennis as the place to be in an otherwise often dreary November.”

Trad storms into the county town

THE 18th Ennis Trad Festival will take the town by storm this weekend as thousands of musicians and music enthusiasts descend on Ennis from this Thursday to the early hours of Tuesday morning. Pubs, hotels and cafés will reverberate to the sound of some of the country’s top traditional musical talent, playing in more than 100 informal sessions.
While the informal session provides the impromptu ‘anything-can-happen-and-probably-will’ element of this highly regarded festival, the ever-expanding festival programme caters to the most eclectic tastes within the genre.
Tara Connaghan and Derek McGinley’s CD launch of Donegal duet fiddle-playing on Sunday at the Temple Gate Hotel (1pm) will raise the heart rates of those devoted to the pure drop. The six other CD launches over the course of the weekend, although representing a diverse range of styles and instruments, will undoubtedly do the same.
In addition to the free festival CD launches, a late club/concert will take place on each of the five nights of the festival, kicking off with NicGaviskey on the Thursday night at the Queen’s Hotel. NicGaviskey is the transatlantic musical quartet of Bernadette Nic Gabhann on fiddle, Caitlin Nic Gabhann on concertina, Sean Gavin on flute and Sean McComiskey on accordian and their music is infectious to all those listening.
Shuckin’ and Jivin’ with the inimitable Andrew Mac makes a welcome return to Ennis Trad Festival. The Tulla musician/DJ could play anything from his local céilí band right through to Radiohead and anything in between.
On Friday, Sligo supergroup Dervish will take to the stage at The Auburn Lodge Hotel around midnight. The engagingly haunting vocals of Catherine Jordan aligned with the musical prowess of Mitchell, Morrow and company are certainly a must-attend event this weekend.
Árd Ghaisce na mBuíonta, which will again take place this year at Glór on Saturday at 7pm, will see 11 céilí bands do battle for the coveted title.
Also on Saturday night at The Auburn Lodge Hotel, the superb trio of Peter Browne, Toonagh’s own Michelle O’Brien and Arty McGlynn take to the stage. The concert will coincide with ninth trad disco when DJ Ollie Mullooly will be back with his own original mix of powerful trad rhythms. Ticket-holders will be allowed access to both events in the hotel on the night.
The much-anticipated Raw Bar Collective – comprising Benny McCarthy, Dave Sheridan (fiddle) and  Cónal O’Gráda – will perform at The Old Ground Hotel at 10pm on Sunday night. They’ll be joined on stage by Neil Ní Crónín for some beautifully dulcet sean-nós singing.
The finale concert of the weekend will see the legend that is Joe Burke join forces with the wonderful Eileen O’Brien and, equally, Arty McGlynn with more of Andrew Mac’s Shuckin’ and Jivin’ to play out the festival.
See www.ennistradfestival.com and Ennis Trad Festival on Facebook for more information on masterclasses in fiddle, flute, set-dancing and sean-nós dancing, book launches, céilí, table quiz and the most up-to-date session trail.