For the 24th year in a row, Abbeyfeale is hosting it's very own Fleadh Cheoil, which takes place on the May Bank Holiday weekend each year.
In 1993, the town was offered the opportunity to host Fleadh Cheoil Luimnigh and it was such a success that they were asked to hold it again the following year. These two events were enjoyed so much by both locals and visitors to the town that it was decided that Abbeyfeale would hold its own annual traditional music festival. The very first Fleadh by the Feale took place in 1995 and there has been one every year ever since.
The Fleadh takes place on the May Bank Holiday weekend each year and this year it runs from 3rd to 7th May. There’s an exciting line-up of events and activities, with something to delight all fans of traditional music and culture.
“In 2018, we are planning our 24th consecutive festival with six members from 1993 still active on the committee today,” says committee member Pat Quille. “It has been a wonderful journey for us all. We have had the best traditional musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers from across Ireland and further afield. We’ve had the best bands in Ireland at our celebrity concert each year, including groups such as the Kilfenora Céilí Band, Frankie Gavin and De Danann, 4 Men and a Dog, Sharon Shannon, Dervish, Mary Black and many more.”
This year’s traditional celebrity concert takes place in Coláiste Íde agus Iosef at 8pm on Sunday 6th May and it features The Shandrum Céilí Band Show. For the past three years in a row, this band has won the title of All Ireland Senior Céilí Band Champions and their lively music is sure to have the people of Abbeyfeale dancing on the streets.
The celebrity concert is only one of the exciting events that attract so many people to Abbeyfeale for the Fleadh. There is also the fantastic traditional music that seems to play non-stop in most of the local bars. The organising committee make sure that four or five musicians play in the sessions which take place throughout the day and into the night, and many people come to town especially for this wonderful free entertainment.
Many of them stay in town to witness the All-Ireland Junior and Senior Bone Playing Competition which brings the festival to a close on Monday evening. People travel from far and wide to compete in this event, which showcases an age-old skill that has come to be closely associated with Abbeyfeale.
While lots of musicians come to Abbeyfeale to play music during the Fleadh, many more come to learn. Master workshops with some of the country’s finest musicians take place in Scoil Mháthair Dé from 11am on Saturday 5th May.
This year’s tutors include some well-known names. Dáithí Gormley is teaching accordion. Aoife Granville is teaching flute. Sorcha Costello will be working with fiddle players, and so too will Aidan Connolly. Theresa O’Grady will teach banjo. James O’Connor will share his knowledge of the bodhrán. Eibhlín Broderick will lead the singing workshop. Adrian Moriarty will teach sean nós dancing and Hugh Healy will teach concertina.
To find out more about any of these events and many more, visit www.fleadhbythefeale.com.
