Ennis Under Siege for Fleadh Nua

From the Comhaltas Blog

Ennis Under Siege for Fleadh Nua

Fleadh Nua Dancers Lay Siege to Ennis in May 2009!!

Fleadh Nua 2009 was launched by well known musician and Clare FM radio presenter Pat Costello in the Glór Irish Music Centre last night (Tuesday, 17th February).

An exciting programme of events was announced by Cathaoirleach, Micheál Ó Riabhaigh for the expected 50,000 visitors to Ennis during this 8 day traditional festival. First off will be a record breaking Siege of Ennis. In September, 2005, 8,371 dancers danced the Siege of Ennis in Cork setting a world record for this event but Fleadh Nua, in conjunction with the Special Olympics, expects to break this record on Sunday, 17th May, appropriately in Ennis. To motivate the dancers (if this were necessary in the Banner County) music will be provided by Clare’s own Kilfenora Céilí Band.

In the year 2009 we celebrate 40 years of this great Irish traditional festival. Headline acts will include Super Trad Group “The Chieftans” in concert in Ennis Cathedral on Wednesday, 20th May. This concert, which promises to be a highly memorable event, is being run to raise funds for the very worthy project, Cuan an Chláir.

Friday, 22nd May sees a unique concert in Glór Irish Music Centre with top young Irish traditional acts “Aos Óg” plus the Hounds of Ulster, a flute & drum music group based in Whiteabbey, County Antrim. This band, a major attaraction at the 2008 Fleadh Nua, are very involved with cross community activities in the North of Ireland. Their music is an exciting combination of Irish, Ulster Scots and Scottish traditional music.

Also in Glór, Clare’s renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band will present a spectacular concert on the Saturday night celebrating the band’s centenary. This céilí band are unquestionably Ireland’s best having totally dominated the Fleadh competition scene both in the 1950s and again in the 1990s. Today their music is better than ever and their new CD “Century” will shortly be in the shops.

Add to these events a week-long series of activities including free lunchtime concerts, traditional session workshops, nightly Club Fleadh Nua sessions plus céilí and set dancing, street sessions and gig-rig entertainment and there’s no doubt that Ennis is the only place for all followers of Irish culture to be during the third week in May 2009.

Visit the Fleadh Nua website for more information on this great traditional music festival.

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