Musicians beat it to Listowel for fun and sun at Fleadh Cheoil

LIVELY music and the beat of dancers’ tapping feet filled the balmy air as the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil opened in Listowel, Co Kerry, last night.

Music sessions were underway in several pubs, with impromptu performances being held in the spacious town square and along the narrow streets.

The country’s biggest traditional music festival is expected to be attended by around 200,000 people, 40 times the resident population of Listowel.

Visitors from home and overseas are estimated to generate spending 13m euro during the hectic weekend of craic, ol agus ceol, with Guinness being a major sponsor.

Being held for the 51st year, the fleadh is being hosted by Listowel for a record 14th time and 1,000 young musicians have been in the town for the past week, attending a Scoil Eigse which included courses in various instruments.

“It looks like being a bumper fleadh and indications are that crowds will be even bigger than last year, with the fine weather being a major help,’’ fleadh spokesman Ned O’Sullivan said.

Accommodation has been practically booked out, but many North Kerry people have opened their homes to visitors and, according to Mr O’Sullivan, some beds are still available.

In a bid to ease traffic congestion, gardaí have made Listowel a traffic-free zone for most of the weekend and car parks have been provided on the outskirts of the town.

Camping facilities are available in the town park, where an official campsite is being run jointly by Listowel GAA club and Listowel Celtic soccer club.

The Samaritans confirmed, last night, that they will have a round-the-clock presence in Listowel during the weekend, with their van parked in a prominent position.

Twenty-two volunteers will be available to take phone calls and also to discreetly meet people face-to-face.

“We find it important to be at all major festivals and last year we had over 250 calls at the fleadh.

“It’s a service we’ve been providing to festival goers for the past three years,’’ director of the Samaritans’ festival branch Mary Barry explained.

“While everybody seems to be enjoying themselves on these occasions, the feelings of people who feel depressed and isolated can be exacerbated in such circumstances.’’

The fleadh was officially opened by the president of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE), Padraig Mac Suibhne.