Fleadh fever to attract 50,000 music fans
Local businesses have come up with €150,000 towards the cost of running the event which, the organisers estimate, is worth around €10 million to the area.
Lovers of Irish music are in for a treat and a selection of ceili bands will keep dancers’ feet tapping throughout the week. A special dance floor has been fitted in a dome beside the Tintean Theatre and around 1,000 polka set enthusiasts are due to attend.
Also, towels and bottled water have been laid on for the sweating dancers.
Fleadh organiser Michael Carr said it would be one of the biggest social and cultural gatherings in Ireland this year.
“We’ve performers coming from many of the Celtic nations and many big-name acts, with 35 acts over seven days,” he added.
Last night, the programme was kick started by the Michael Ó Suilleabhain orchestra, Iarlá Ó Lionaird, Mel Mercier and Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh. An average of 5,000 people are expected to attend each of three outdoor concerts in a cliff-top setting where the Atlantic stage has been erected. The concerts will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, reaching a high point on Sunday night with John Spillane, Declan O’Rourke, the Waterboys and the Gypsy Kings.
Workshops in dance and instrumental music are being held during the week, including a listen and learn workshop with piper Ronan Browne, which has been described as a music appreciation course.
An unusual attraction will be La Botine Souriante, a Canadian group, on Friday night. These musicians combine jazz with the traditional music of France, England, Ireland and Scotland to produce a distinctive sound.
Other musical highlights will include Sharon Shannon and Dessie O’Halloran, Carlos Nunez, Lunasa and the Scottish group, Capercaille. The event has no connection with the Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Eireann (CCE)-organised Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, to be held in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on August 25-27.
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