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August date for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
 FLEADH
Cheoil na hÉireann is now Ireland’s premier traditional music
festival and this year it will be held in Tullamore in Co. Offaly.
The Fleadh runs from August 19 to August 26 and includes Scoil Éigse
which comprises a week of workshops and classes in Irish traditional music,
song and dance.
Each year the Fleadh brings together a phenomenal line-up of traditional
musicians from all over the world. Every night of the Fleadh visitors
will be treated to a fantastic atmosphere of traditional entertainment.
It is estimated the Fleadh attracts in the region of 250,000 visitors.
With 10,000 performers and 131 competitions the 56th Fleadh Cheoil na
hÉireann is the Olympics of traditional Irish music and this year
is located in the heart of the midlands of Ireland only 90 minutes from
Dublin and easily accessible from all of the country’s major routes.
Organising the Fleadh is a mammoth task. The committee is chaired by well-known
musician Attracta Brady assisted by more than 100 volunteers.
Attracta said: “Securing the event was an amazing coup not just
for Tullamore but also for the midlands.”
But the biggest plus of the event is the thousands of people the town
will welcome into its midst over the Fleadh weekend.
Attracta said: “The Fleadh is all about people as well as the music.
It is fantastic that people are travelling from all over Britain with
many making an annual pilgrimage to the Mecca of traditional music.
“It’s a huge opportunity for Tullamore to showcase what a
wonderful town we have and the local community is really looking forward
to playing host to all the visitors.
“We want people to come and experience Tullamore’s hospitality
and enjoy themselves while they are staying with us.”
With a tradition that includes the prolific traditional composer John
Brady and the All-Ireland winning Longridge Céilí Band,
Offaly has earned a strong musical reputation through the years.
This along with an outstanding bid by the local committee made Tullamore
an obvious location for the event. It boasts a compact town centre with
over 30 pubs and venues and its wide streets and open squares are ideal
for the sessions the Fleadh visitor has come to know and love.
The centrepiece of the All Ireland is the competitions which take place
on Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26.
For many though the public face of the Fleadh is the music sessions, which
take place in every pub, hotel, café, doorway, alleyway and tent
throughout the weekend.
Tullamore offers many locations from which to enjoy both playing and listening
to the great variety of talent that will visit the town during the August
event.
There will also be a wide selection of outdoor and indoor concerts, Céilithe,
parades, workshops, pageants, competitions and street sessions throughout
the week.
For further information or to book accommodation contact Karen O’Grady
on 00353 87 1397438 or e-mail pro@fleadh2007.com. |
