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MÁRTA 2008

Iml.5 Uimh.1

FOCAL ÓN gCATHAOIRLEACH

Micheál Ó Riabhaigh (Cathaoirleach Coiste Fleadh Nua) writes:

FLEADH MUSINGS

“Reaching the main road it is a short trip to Ennis. Arriving in the city limits we find a B&B and head into town on foot. It was a fairy tale town. The intimate old shops line the streets in a colorful display of the best in food, crafts and pubs. It had the feel of a medieval town under the shadow of the 13th century friary. The narrow and twisted streets snaked their way towards the town center where a music festival was winding down for the evening .The luck of the Irish!

We had arrived during the most famous and best musical festival of traditional music, the Fleadh Nua. People were everywhere, spilling onto the small tunnel passageways that linked the narrow one way streets. It was a celebration that involved dancing, drinking and making merry!

We immediately found a pub to stumble into. We were squeezed into places at the bar and immediately made to feel part of the celebration. Ten or so musicians, ending their day together sat around a long table making music. I could not believe our good fortune. The musicians would finish one song and begin another. They would sit and drink and be quite for a moment and then one of them would pick up their instrument and begin anew. The rest falling in or just listening. It was traditional and at times so sad I felt tears falling down my cheeks.

Then it would change and become a foot stomping ruckus free for all with the whole pub taking part with singing the lyrics.

Not knowing the words did not keep me from singing that night.

The pub was called Brogans. The town was called Ennis. The music was called mystical.”

Extract from“60 Pubs in Ennis” Alphawoman1’s Blog on http://journals.aol.com

FLEADH NUA SALUTES FRANK CUSTY

The passing of musicianship and tunes from one generation to the next are benchmarks for the vitality of Traditional Music the world over.

Music Teachers play a vital role in this process for not only do they impart their knowledge of the technical aspects of making music, the really special ones have the ability to engender in their students an all consuming passion for their art.

Frank Custy is undoubtedly the doyen of Clare’s Music Teachers. Sharon Shannon, Noel Hill, Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, Tony Linnane, Siobhán Peoples and the Healy Brothers are just some of the musicians who have learned their craft from the Toonagh Tutor. In 2004 Frank was a worthy recipient of Vodafone “Passion for the World Around Us Award” since in the words of the Clare Champion: “He has played a major role in providing the youth of Clare with access to traditional music via his weekly music classes and legendary céilí sessions in the old Toonagh schoolhouse.”

Comhaltas in Clare also owes Frank an inestimable debt of gratitude for his Herculean efforts in the construction and development of Cois na hAbhna in the late 1970’s and the early 1980’s. What venue, then, could be more appropriate for Fleadh Nua’s tribute to Frank Custy than the newly refurbished Cois na hAbhna? Join Frank and friends on Sunday, 18th May for the Official Opening of Fleadh Nua 2008.

OÍCHE GHAELACH

Is léir don saol an dea-thoil atá ag muintir na hÉireann i leith na Gaeige. Ach is minic a chloistear: “I’d love to speak a bit of Irish but I don’t have any opportunity to do so.” Bhuel beidh réiteach ar an bhfadhb seo i mbliana nuair a reachtálfar Oíche Ghaelach i gCois na hAbhna ar an Luan, 19 Bealtaine.

Tuigtear do Chomhaltas gur mhian len alán daoine triail a bhaint as a gcuid Gaeilge i suíomh neamhfhoirmeálta, taobh amugh den seomra scoile. Leagfar an bhéim ar cheol, chaint agus chomhluadar ag an imeacht seo agus fearfaimid fáilte roimh oirfidigh óga ó Ghaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg agus ó Ghaelcholaiste an Chláir a bheas ag seinm ar an oíche. Gabhann Coiste Fleadh Nua fíorbhuíochas le Conradh na Gaeilge agus leis An gClár as Gaeilge Teo. as ucht a gcuid cabhrach leis an dtogra seo..

Concerts and Recitals

Concerts of the highest standard have long been a hallmark of Fleadh Nua. Evenings such as “Kitty Linnane and Friends”, “The Céilí Bands’ Reunion Concert“, and “Images of 1957” will live long in the public memory by virtue of the talent of the performers on display and the uniqueness of the occasion. Fleadh Nua ’08 follows and enhances this tradition with a range of Concerts and Recitals that is truly second to none.

Artistes drawn from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance will form the nucleus of the Concert at Glór Irish Music Centre on Saturday, 24th May. They will be joined by master Uileann Piper Mickey Dunne and his daughter, Bríd on the Fiddle – proud standard bearers of the Dunne Family who have made an enormous contribution to Traditional Music years. Séamus Mac Mathúna will also be on hand to sing a song or two.

Molann Comhaltas an óige agus tagann sí – chuig cheolchoirm an Aosa Óig. Nowhere is the proficiency of the young generation of our traditional artistes more in evidence than at the Aos Óg Concert. Spend an evening in the company of Ireland’s finest young Musicians, Dancers and Singers - it will take your breath away. Glór Irish Music Centre plays host to this singular event on Friday, 23rd May.

Fleadh Nua welcomes Peadar Ó Riada agus Cór Cúil Aodha to Glór Irish Music Centre for “Cór agus Ceol” on Sunday, 25th May. Founded by Seán Ó Riada in 1964, the Choir’s original purpose was to sing at liturgical services in Cúil Aodha Church. Shortly after its inception it started also to sing as a ‘claisceadal’ or traditional singing group which then commenced singing in public from the late sixties up to today.
After O Riada’s death on 3/10/’71 the choir came under the direction of his son Peadar who still maintains that same position today. Many illustrious names from the world of Irish Sean Nós singing and Poetry have been associated with this choir and the choir has been frequently called upon to do duty at various occasions of historical importance.

Fleadh Nua wishes to congratulate Peadar Ó Riada on his recent nomination by TG4 for a Gradam Ceoil as Cumadóir na Bliana. It is only fitting therefore that Peadar should be joined for this event by Fiddle Supremos Tommy Peoples – himself the very first recipient winner of a Gradam Ceoil in 1998 – and his daughter, Siobhán. Additional music will be provided by the Leeds Scóraíocht Group who have enjoyed a lengthy association with Fleadh Nua and can always be relied upon to provide first class entertainment.

Please note that tickets for events in Glór Irish Music Centre may be booked at www.glor.ie Early booking is advised.

“An Fidil Beo" consists of an acoustic recital in a semi-formal setting by well known traditional artistes. The presentation of Traditional Music in such a format has proved highly enjoyable to both audience and artistes alike. There is a distinctly Clare Feel to proceedings this year with Fiddler, Denis Liddy accompanied by Kilshanny’s own, Michael Hynes on the Flute.

To say that the duo’s CD “Waifs and Strays” was released to critical acclaim is an understatement: “…[T]his is one of the absolutely essential, unequivocally gorgeous releases of 2003 and, … will be regarded as a benchmark recording for many years to come,” wrote Geoff

Wallis in The Irish Music Review. Denis and Michael will be joined by Bozouki and sometime Fiddler, Eoin O’ Neill and Joe Talty. This year’s recital takes place at The Temple Gate Hotel on Tuesday, 20th May.

Some two years after the event, people still talk about “A Terrible Beauty” – Fleadh Nua’s insightful and thought provoking retrospective on the events of 1916 on the occasion of its 90th Anniversary. Among the headline acts performing on that unique evening were the Turloughmore Céilí Band and the legendary Seán Ó Sé both of whom are making a welcome return to this year’s Fleadh. So if it is the very best of Traditional Music and Singing in Irish and English which you seek, go no further than Cois na hAbhna on Wednesday, 21st May.

A programme of Lunch Time Concerts has been organised for the County Museum starting at 1.00 p.m. Monday, 19th May and continuing until Thursday, 22nd May. Details of performers will be announced later.

Scoil Fleadh Nua

Scoil Fleadh Nua lends an Educational Aspect to the festival. A comprehensive series of Set Dancing Workshops under the tutelage of Mary Clancy and Mike Mahony has been organised so as to provide dancers with a chance to learn the Clare Sets and some of the more popular Céilí dances.

Brian Prior will conduct the immensely popular Fonn Seisiún Workshops from Monday, 19th May to Thursday, 22nd May. These workshops are designed to familiarise musicians with the most common session tune sets and enable participants to develop the skills for playing in sessions. Having attended these workshops, aspiring musicians will find plenty of opportunities to put their newly acquired skills into throughout the Festival – taithí a dhéanann máistreacht mar a deirtear

A series of classes in some of the more popular traditional music instruments will also feature as part of the Programme of Events for Scoil Fleadh Nua. Full details will be announced later.

The Celtic Studies Programme covers themes in Irish History, Folklore and the Irish Language and colours in the background to our music, song and dance. Storytelling Sessions with Eddie Lenihan—Ireland's foremost Seanchaí, The Seán Reid Memorial Lecture by Pat Costello, Exhibitions on Traditional Music and Musicians, Presentations of Archive Material and Sonia Schormann’s Guided Walking Tour of Ennis bring a value added element to this feast of traditional entertainment that is rarely found at like festivals.

Céilithe

“The grand finale was on Monday night at Cois na hAbhna with the Four Courts Ceili Band. The hall was packed to the rafters, and the music was spectacular. For anyone who has danced at John Vaughan’s barn in Kilfenora, you have probably danced to Four Courts, since they are the house band. Great people, great music.

The Fleadh Nua offered a great venue along with fantastic music. As with the last time that we attended, it gave both Don and I the opportunity to dance with the friends that we have made over the years, and to meet new ones.” Extract from Article in “In Step” – the Newsletter of the Greater Washington Céilí Club by Linda Collins.

Dancers always have a special affinity for Fleadh Nua. Perhaps, it has to do with the line-up of bands. Possibly, it is because it offers people the opportunity to dance on one of the best dance floors in the country. Or maybe they just have a great time. For whatever reason, dancers flock to Ennis in their droves every year for the Fleadh. And what a programme is in place for this year!!

Fleadh Nua stalwarts, the Tulla Céilí Band will play for the opening Céilí on 22nd May in the Old Ground Hotel.

Friday, 23rd May sees the return of Cork’s finest – the Abbey Céilí Band – to Cois na hAbhna.

The legendary Kilfenora Céilí Band take to the stage in Cois na hAbhna on Saturday, 24th May while fans of the ever popular Glenside Céilí Band will no doubt throng the Auburn Lodge Hotel on the same night.

The “Dynamic Duo” of Micheál Sexton and Pat Walsh provide the music in Cois na hAbhna on Sunday, 25th May.

The Star of Munster Céilí Band host the Farewell Session at the Queen's Hotel on the morning of Monday , 25th May. And if you still haven’t danced your fill, the Four Courts Céilí Band will be on hand at Cois na hAbhna on Monday evening so as to help you dance the night away.

Aeríocht

The visibility of the Traditional Arts in County Clare is undoubtedly high. While Concerts, Céilithe, Recitals and Workshops contribute hugely to the success of the Festival, Fleadh Nua is also concerned that the richness of our cultural heritage should be made accessible to as many people as possible. Consequently, a comprehensive programme of Outdoor Entertainment has been arranged so as to include Gig Rig with live Music, Song and Dance, a Street Music Trail, a Marching Band Parade followed by a Seisiún Mór with Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach.

AN FOCAL SCOIR

The Singers’ Clubs, CD launches and Pub Music Trail which are held during the Festival provide a more relaxed and informal atmosphere in which both dedicated supporters as well as more casual observers can enjoy some of the finest exponents of the Traditional Arts.

And if the “organised” part of the programme doesn’t overload your senses, a myriad of impromptu sessions both indoors and out ensures that the narrow, medieval streets of Ennis resound with Music, Song and Dance throughout the Festival.

County Clare is nationally and internationally recognised as the heartland of Irish Traditional Music Song and Dance. Ennis has been the natural home for Fleadh Nua since 1973. So come and join us - níl fleadh níos fearr!!!

Visit www.fleadhnua.com for more details.

Fleadh Nua is organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on a voluntary not for profit basis.

Rory Casey