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FLEADH NA MUMHAN 2007 OFFICALLY OPENED

The 47th Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan was officially opened on Friday, July 21st in the banquet hall of the historic Desmonde Castle in Newcastlewest.

Opening the proceeding’s, Fleadh Cathaoirleach Michéal Ó Coileáin formally welcomed those in attendance to Newcastlewest, as the town prepared to stage the Munster Fleadh Cheoil for only the second time, the last time being over forty years ago in 1965. The staging of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2007 was a partnership between Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and Newcastlewest Chamber of Commerece, the former overseeing the musical aspects of the Fleadh while the Chamber of Commerce organised the commercial side of the Fleadh. He thanked his hard-working committee for their support and commitment and he also extended a sincere thanks to all the sponsors of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan.

The Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, Kevin Sheehan was next to speak.

“Newcastlewest is the first town of our County and as the first citizen of our County, to have a Fleadh in an town such as this is most impressive”

He also congratulated Micheal Collins and the Fleadh committee for bringing such a prestigious event to West Limerick

Fleadh PRO and Cathaoirleach of Newcastlewest Chamber of Commerce Declan O’Grady outlined how the staging of Fleadh na Mumhan 2007 had been a three year partnership project with Killeedy CCE, which included the staging of Fleadh Cheoil Luimnigh in both 2005 and 2006.

“Combining with Comhaltas to organise this event has been a working partnership given the commercial nature of the Fleadh”

Chairman of Limerick County Board, Seán Ó hÉalaithe, praised the local organising committee

“I am certain that their work will please the whole province of Munster and beyond”

He concluding by welcoming everyone from across the province to what promised to be a memorable weekend in Newcastlewest

Ard-Stiurthóir of Comhaltas Labhrás Ó Murchú praised Fleadh Chairman Micheal Collins who he described as having “a quiet confidence interacting with a fierce determination”. Speaking about Wednesday night’s concert of West Limerick music, he described the atmosphere as ‘electric’ and praised all those who kept our music alive during the years in which Irish music wasn’t as popular. By staging a concert featuring musicians from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, the organising committee were creating ‘a bridge of continuity’ which ensure’s our music is kept alive today

He also praised Newcastle Chamber of Commerce for linking so successfully with Kileedy CCE:

“Comhaltas can not exist in isolation, its part of a community

Concluding he praised the local committee and he stated it is encouraging to see that

“Volunteerism is still alive and well in the Ireland of today”

Caoithearlach Comhairle na Mumhan, Tadhg O Maolcatha extended a warm welcome to all visitors to the Fleadh. He spoke how Newcastlewest is a great centre of culture with many excellent branches in its environs. He praised the host branch Kileedy CCE whom he described as “a magnificent committee”. He thanked everybody who had helped in any way to helped in any way in the organisation of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan in particular the sponsors. Finally he officially opened Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2007 to great applause from all those in attendance.

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Newcastle to reel in 30,000 Fleadh fans

By NORMA PRENDIVILLE

UP to 30,000 musicians, singers, dancers, lilters and music-lovers of all ages are expected to throng the streets of Newcastle West this weekend for Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan.

But you don't have to wait for the Fleadh to be officially opened on Friday to hear a polka, slide or slow air as the Munster Fleadh kicked off early, beginning with a busking competition on Tuesday evening and continuing this Wednesday with a rare dip into West Limerick's musical past.

"We are bringing together over 30 musicians from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s at a concert in Courtenay Lodge Hotel," the chairman, Michael Collins, told the Limerick Leader. Another big plus in this "straic-fheachaint siar" is a lecture by Domhnall de Barra, a man steeped in the music and knowledge of music of the area.

"It has been 42 years since the last Munster Fleadh Cheoil was held in Newcastle West, and even though the landscape has changed drastically, the appetite and enthusiasm for our traditional culture has not diminished," said Mr Collins, who is a county councillor and a musician himself.

The Fleadh, he said, was made possible through a creative union between the Killeedy Comhaltas branch, Cluain Chreadhail, and Newcastle West and District Chamber of Commerce. Together, they hosted the County Fleadh over the past two years and now have taken on the even bigger challenge of the Munster event.

"It is going to be a huge event for the town and for West Limerick," Mr Collins said.

As always, the competitions are the serious work of the Fleadh, and these take place over Saturday and Sunday.

But, said Declan O'Grady, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and PRO for the Fleadh, whilst not taking from the importance of the competitions, which secure the future of traditional Irish music, song, dance and storytelling, the committee endeavoured to create a festival atmosphere to work in tandem with the main business of the Fleadh.

A storytelling and singing session has been organised for this Thursday night in Courtenay Lodge Hotel, during which Garry MacMahon will launch his new CD, Songman. Other attractions will include a concert with traditional group At the Racket, and a ceili in the Ballintemple Inn on Friday night with Taylor's Cross Ceili Band.

Weather permitting, there will be open-air, platform dancing with Allow Ceili Band on Saturday night. There will also be an historical walk on Sunday afternoon. For musicians, there will be the added bonus of master workshops in slides and polkas and in slow-air singing during Friday.

"Venue-wise, we are blessed," Mr Collins said. The competitions proper will take place in the Desmond College and in nearby Gaelscoil O'Doghair. The official opening by Comhaltas president Labhras O'Murchu will take place in the restored Desmond Hall.

But for many, the biggest attraction of the weekend will be the impromptu sessions, whether in corridors, on street corners or in pubs.

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NEWCASTLEWEST ALL SET TO HAVE THEM REELING AT THE MUNSTER FLEADH

 By MARTIN BYRNES

LABHRÁS O Murchú, Árd Stiuritheoir of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann, broke his hectic nationwide campaign to retain his Seanad seat to attend the official launch of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, which will be held in Newcastle West from July 17 to 22.

The Courtenay Lodge Hotel was festooned with Comhaltas posters for the occasion and an impressive display of photographs and press cuttings brought back memories stretching back over the provincial fleadh's 47 year history.

The Munster Fleadh was only five years old when it was first awarded to Newcastle West in 1965. It had been a brave move, as the town had never even hosted a county fleadh, but the event went well and Newcastle West featured nationally because RTÉ brought its mobile recording van to tape various performances for subsequent broadcast on radio.

But Newcastle West didn't feature again as a fleadh centre for more than four decades, as neither the county nor provincial fleadheanna came its way again. But, two years ago, the very active Killeedy Comhaltas were awarded the county fleadh and, in conjunction with the new Newcastle West and District Chamber of Commerce, decided that Killeedy did not have the necessary facilities to accommodate an event on the scale envisaged, and chose to host it in Newcastle West instead. And so, for the past two years, the county fleadh has been held in Newcastle West, using the fine facilities of Desmond College and other locations for competitions and providing both indoor and outdoor concert and session entertainments in and around the town centre for the large crowds who attended.

In recognition of that success, Comhaltas na Mumhan asked the same organisers to host this year's provincial fleadh.

The Munster Fleadh is the event to which qualifiers from each of the six counties contend for places in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, to be held this year in Tullamore.

Chairman of the Munster Fleadh is Cllr Michael Collins, a native of Killeedy and now Newcastle West resident, who is himself an accomplished musician.

Cllr Collins said that the committee is very lucky to have a huge hinterland, “rich in our national culture of music, song and our native language”.

“I have no doubt but that the fleadh will be a huge success and is there to be enjoyed by all,”, he said.

Fleadh PRO and president of the Chamber of Commerce, Declan O’Grady, said that Chamber is proud to be associated with the event and that it would be if major economic and cultural benefit for Newcastle West and for west Limerick in general..

The fleadh will commence on Tuesday, July 17, with evening street entertainment, and there will be prizes for the various age categories.

Wednesday’s featured event will be a gala concert at the Courtenay Lodge Hotel which will feature performers from the 1950s ’60s and ’70s, some of whom will be travelling from overseas for the occasion.

The hotel will again be the venue for Thursday’s flagship night of traditional singing and storytelling, and similar entertainments will be staged on Friday and Saturday also.

Throughout Friday, workshops in slow air playing and singing will be held, confined to county qualifiers. Domhnall de Barra will conduct a polka and slide playing workshop on Friday also.

The official opening of the fleadh will take place on Friday evening, followed by an open air concert featuring At The Racket.

Friday evening will also see the senior set finals in the community centre. The junior grades will take place on Saturday.

A feature of the two county fleadheanna which proved very popular was the open air platform dancing, and this will be repeated on Saturday evening with music being provided by the Allow Céilí Band.

Sunday afternoon will have live music in the Square with Ardagh Carrickerry Comhaltas providing the music and their contribution will be followed by traditional group Ceoltóirí na Sionainne. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a conducted historical walk. The six-day festival will conclude on Sunday night with a performance from the musicians of Brú Ború centre in Cashel.

The Munster Fleadh is being supported by the County Council, Shannon Development, Comhaltas’ Meitheal programme, Diageo and local businesses.