Music festival gets ready to hit the right note

LOCAL people and tourists will enjoy a feast of traditional Irish music at the annual Co Kerry Fleadh Cheoil, which gets underway in Killarney today.

Hundreds of musicians, singers and dancers will take part in competitions, but there will also be plenty of sessions on the streets, in pubs and hotels.

Entertainment will be provided each day on the streets and in bars.

Highlights of the programme will include a Sliabh Luachra concert in the Malton Hotel, on Thursday night, which will feature a tribute to well-known Kerry couple Nicky and Ann McAuliffe, for their contribution to Irish music.

Musicians, dancers and story tellers from Sliabh Luachra and beyond will entertain at the concert.

A ceilí will be held on Saturday night and the fleadh will end on Sunday.

The fleadh’s organising committee is made up of members of the Killarney, Kilcummin, Glenflesk, Gneeveguilla/Rathmore, and Fossa branches of Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí

Éireann (CCE).

Activities today will include a singing session in Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar and a music session in the Arbutus Hotel.

Tomorrow night, CCE members from Tralee and Caherciveen will take part in a seisiún in the Gleneagle Hotel.

On Friday night, the Market Cross will be the venue for street entertainment by a large number of musicians.

Upwards of 300 young competitors will take part in various competitions on Saturday, with the winners progressing to the Munster Fleadh and from there to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.