Personally I wouldn't know where to begin having just surfaced from the Farewell Session a couple of hours ago - possibly a case of trad music overload after 9 days at it! I didn't manage to get to either the Chieftains in the Cathedral or the Kilfenora "100 Year" concert but I caught the Tommy Peoples recital last night which was something very special. Not only was his playing magical but most of the tunes were newly composed and I don't mean the ones on his Quiet Glen CD but even more recent ones!
Anyway if anyone has other experiences to share from this Ennis event, I'd be most interested to hear them. Reports from the big concerts would be particularly welcome.
That's a relief Sean - Glad to know I'm not the only one that over-indulged a bit. I forgot to mention the lads from the "other tradition", The Hounds of Ulster with their mix of trad and Ulster Scots. I know it's very different to what we're used to but the precision, drive and power of their music was something to be seen. Also the enthusiasm and enjoyment emanating from the group was infectious for the audiences.
Blasta, the new group from Dublin were mighty on the gig rig on Saturday and I'm sure they're in with a real chance at the Battle of the Bands in Vicar Street on the 5th June. They're also a great group of session musicians and I enjoyed a few tunes with them in the Old Ground Bar.
I missed it, but de udder half had her school band out marching down the main street in the afternoon, very impressed with the response from well wishers etc.! Well done again Ennis & Fleadh Nua comm-ittee!
That's another great trad festival CFlood which normally takes place during the first or second week in November. The homepage is at http://www.ennistradfestival.com/ which will no doubt be updated for 2009 in the next couple of months.
You don't have to wait that long though for some great festivals in the Banner county. Some of those coming up shortly are as follows:
1) Next weekend - Kilmihil Trad Fest;
2) Late June - Clare Fleadh in Kilfenora (presently centre of the Trad universe as the local band celebrates its centenary);
3) First week in July - the great Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay;
4) Third weekend in August - Kilrush Festival;
5) Early September - Tulla Trad festival.
There are probably some others but these are the ones that immediately come to mind. I'll dig up some more information on them shortly and also post the URLs (if available). It looks like a great Summer in prospect in the Banner County!
Bannerman, when I was in Ireland in early May, I had heard that the Ennis Trad Festival wasn't going to take place this year in November as another victim of sponsorship and the economy. Was that not true?
Clareman, that would be very depressing as many of us feel that these festivals act as a great antidote to our present economic woes. I'll make some enquiries and post my findings here. In the meantime this is the list I promised on the upcoming Clare Summer trad events:-
Any news of the Feakle festival, anybody?
It's due to be on the weekend before Kilrush, I think. http://www.feaklefestival.ie/ is yet to be updated.
I missed the Fleadh Nua - got rained off at the Siege, and didn't get back to Ennis for the week. I have other stuff on that weekend every year, but I'd love to make it some time!!
No worries RockRoader as you'll probably get another chance in May 2010 with hopefully a drier day for the Siege of Ennis world record attempt. My preference would be to run it on the final Fleadh Sunday to coincide with the parade but we'll see what the organisers come up with.
Don't know how I could have forgotten Feakle which is always a great weekend. As for the latest information, the Riches of Clare page at http://www.clare.ie/events/view/music-107/riches_of_clare_2009_free_lunchtime_session-130.html mentions a concert coinciding with the Festival on 10th August. This would place the event for the weekend of 7th to 9th August but no doubt the Festival site will be updated in due course.
Anyhow we digress - was anybody at the Kilfenora or Chieftains concerts during Fleadh Nua?
Chieftains concert was late to start...They had to go up to Brandon's and pull Matt Malloy down! They were supported by a group of musicians (From Newmarket, if I heard correctly)...Blackie O' Connell was with them I know, and I'm hearing great things about a Scottish Singer!
I haven't been able to feel my fingers in days!
Went to see my cousin Tola Custy playin in the museum on the Thursday at lunchtime and it was good enough!
Played in a good few sessions in or around the Old Ground over the weekend, and went up on the gig rig in the square with two different groups. All in all, yet another good Fleadh Nua!
Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Personally I wouldn't know where to begin having just surfaced from the Farewell Session a couple of hours ago - possibly a case of trad music overload after 9 days at it! I didn't manage to get to either the Chieftains in the Cathedral or the Kilfenora "100 Year" concert but I caught the Tommy Peoples recital last night which was something very special. Not only was his playing magical but most of the tunes were newly composed and I don't mean the ones on his Quiet Glen CD but even more recent ones!
Anyway if anyone has other experiences to share from this Ennis event, I'd be most interested to hear them. Reports from the big concerts would be particularly welcome.
# Posted on May 25th 2009 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
I cant feel my fingers today.....So thats a good sign!
# Posted on May 25th 2009 by seaniemcg
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
That's a relief Sean - Glad to know I'm not the only one that over-indulged a bit. I forgot to mention the lads from the "other tradition", The Hounds of Ulster with their mix of trad and Ulster Scots. I know it's very different to what we're used to but the precision, drive and power of their music was something to be seen. Also the enthusiasm and enjoyment emanating from the group was infectious for the audiences.
Blasta, the new group from Dublin were mighty on the gig rig on Saturday and I'm sure they're in with a real chance at the Battle of the Bands in Vicar Street on the 5th June. They're also a great group of session musicians and I enjoyed a few tunes with them in the Old Ground Bar.
# Posted on May 25th 2009 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
I missed it, but de udder half had her school band out marching down the main street in the afternoon, very impressed with the response from well wishers etc.! Well done again Ennis & Fleadh Nua comm-ittee!
# Posted on May 25th 2009 by newdeafman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
whats the story with Ennis Trad fest in November??
# Posted on May 25th 2009 by CFlood
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
That's another great trad festival CFlood which normally takes place during the first or second week in November. The homepage is at http://www.ennistradfestival.com/ which will no doubt be updated for 2009 in the next couple of months.
You don't have to wait that long though for some great festivals in the Banner county. Some of those coming up shortly are as follows:
1) Next weekend - Kilmihil Trad Fest;
2) Late June - Clare Fleadh in Kilfenora (presently centre of the Trad universe as the local band celebrates its centenary);
3) First week in July - the great Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay;
4) Third weekend in August - Kilrush Festival;
5) Early September - Tulla Trad festival.
There are probably some others but these are the ones that immediately come to mind. I'll dig up some more information on them shortly and also post the URLs (if available). It looks like a great Summer in prospect in the Banner County!
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Bannerman, when I was in Ireland in early May, I had heard that the Ennis Trad Festival wasn't going to take place this year in November as another victim of sponsorship and the economy. Was that not true?
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by clareman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
thats what i ment, its not on this year and i heard it from a reliable source last weekend......
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by CFlood
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Clareman, that would be very depressing as many of us feel that these festivals act as a great antidote to our present economic woes. I'll make some enquiries and post my findings here. In the meantime this is the list I promised on the upcoming Clare Summer trad events:-
29th - 31st May 2009 Kilmihil Traditional Music and Dance Weekend, Co. Clare - http://comhaltas.ie/events/detail/kilmihil_traditional_music_and_dance_weekend/
17th - 21st June 2009 Clare Fleadh, Kilfenora, Co. Clare - http://comhaltas.ie/events/detail/clare_fleadh_2009/
July 4th - 12th 2009 Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare - http://www.setdancingnews.net/wcss/
August 14th – 16th Kilrush 2009 Traditional Festival - http://comhaltas.ie/events/detail/kilrush_traditional_festival/
11th - 13th September 2009 Tulla Traditional Music Festival 2009, Co. Clare - http://www.tullatradfestival.com/
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Any news of the Feakle festival, anybody?
It's due to be on the weekend before Kilrush, I think.
http://www.feaklefestival.ie/ is yet to be updated.
I missed the Fleadh Nua - got rained off at the Siege, and didn't get back to Ennis for the week. I have other stuff on that weekend every year, but I'd love to make it some time!!
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by RockyRoader
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
No worries RockRoader as you'll probably get another chance in May 2010 with hopefully a drier day for the Siege of Ennis world record attempt. My preference would be to run it on the final Fleadh Sunday to coincide with the parade but we'll see what the organisers come up with.
Don't know how I could have forgotten Feakle which is always a great weekend. As for the latest information, the Riches of Clare page at http://www.clare.ie/events/view/music-107/riches_of_clare_2009_free_lunchtime_session-130.html mentions a concert coinciding with the Festival on 10th August. This would place the event for the weekend of 7th to 9th August but no doubt the Festival site will be updated in due course.
Anyhow we digress - was anybody at the Kilfenora or Chieftains concerts during Fleadh Nua?
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by Bannerman
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Chieftains concert was late to start...They had to go up to Brandon's and pull Matt Malloy down!
They were supported by a group of musicians (From Newmarket, if I heard correctly)...Blackie O' Connell was with them I know, and I'm hearing great things about a Scottish Singer!
I haven't been able to feel my fingers in days!
Went to see my cousin Tola Custy playin in the museum on the Thursday at lunchtime and it was good enough!
Played in a good few sessions in or around the Old Ground over the weekend, and went up on the gig rig in the square with two different groups. All in all, yet another good Fleadh Nua!
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by jlocky
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
BY the way, is there a website for the group "Blasta", because there is no link on this site!
# Posted on May 26th 2009 by jlocky
Re: Fleadh Nua - How was it for you?
Bannerman- Had a fantastic time at the Fleadh Nua. It was great to be part of it.
Jlocky- I'm the fiddle player with Blasta, no website up yet ( it's a working progress) , but we do have a myspace page www.myspace.com/blastaband
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by sherryc