i am writing to tell you how disppointed i am about the world fleadh...there was hardly any music in local pubs(i dont know why there was even a list up of participating pubs holding sessions)..the 1 or 2 pubs that had sessions were private and i was informed they were bands and could not join in..im 20years of age have been playing d box for 15 years,am an active member of comhaltas and have attended all the fleadhs....this was my first time to come to the world fleadh and will be my last...all it is is a money racket..the only ting i enjoyed was the bed and breakfast.. all that was at the world fleadh was expensive concerts..sharon shannon was brill but come on 44.50 i paid 20 to see her in athlone....the town was dead and most of the locals said it wasnt even like a fleadh there was no atmosphere... the so called events in the mall was a disaster since when is a gig rig a trailer????rock music?????? absolutely useless...will be informing everyone at the all ireland about this useless event... the people i met at the fleadh said it was a disgrace...i had 1 good session wit castlebar locals and they were so disappointed with it......
is there anyone out there who believes it was crap???that it wasnt as good as portlaois??
o and where were the traditional music competitions???????? like in portlaois they had competitions for various instruments, for various titles like world fleadh fiddler, accordion player,flute player??
all the comps i saw were for dancing............
I passed through Castlebar on the Friday night - didn't even notice it was on.
My sister passed through on Saturday afternoon - couldn't find anything happening at all.
Maybe it's more to do with promoting business and grant farming etc. Would have thought those days are coming to a close though, what with cut backs etc.
At least the likes of the Willie Week / Joe Mooney etc. should be able to stand on their own feet as they have a solid base with good reputations and plenty of punters etc..
wow chill out girl! why you so worked up cos there were no competitions??? if your looking for competitions stick with your comhaltas!! the world fleadh is to be enjoyed! why are people so set on putting it down and spreading the word about how bad it was! sure if you keep thinking like that it'll never take off cos your not giving it a chance! alot of time and hard work goes into organising the event. and fair play to all the organisers cos it aint easy. cheer up and try to see the better side of things rather than always looking for the worst in it and ya might enjoy it!
Castebar was rocking lastnight!!
i am chilling but it was crap there was no sessions and thats what i was interested in.... it was money based..wat organising went into it????d only ting was the royal theatre...
i absolutely love the all ireland fleadh
i love willie clancey
i love drumshambo etc etc
but u know paying 36euro on a train to go to castlebar where there was supposed to be sessions in the pubs,sessions on the street,gig rigs with traditional irish music(not rock) when there wasnt was very disappointing.. i was chatn d owners of a few pubs and they said it wasnt really ur typical fleadh..it was only based around concerts in the royal theatre... im not looking for the worst in it.....but ya know the organisers didnt do enough.....as seen from the comments above sum people didnt even know there was a fleadh on..
im not complaining(well actually i am)but i just want to warn people before they waste their money on wat they may tink will be a weekend of trad irish music....twas nothing like wat it was hyped up to be...
i too heard there was a lack of sessions and say 'festival vibe'. I know people who did a few sessions at it, they wer booked by the pub and not the festival.
there was a great lineup of concerts for all, yes theyre expensive, but any event in a 2500 seater theatre will be expensive?! so i suppose it would have been better to have more sessions and outdoor stuff organised, but then again i think it was mentioned there was no funding for the event this year, so it was sitting on the the organisers head?
and isnt it better to have the opportunity to get chance to see these groups perform in the west, when else will you have moving hearts, crooked still, frankie gavin etc in the west? im glad the world fleadh takes place each year, and hope it continues too, and lets just hope it gets better and better.
Beggars the question: is Sharon Shannon the only box player in Ireland?. She seems to be appearing in nearly every town in the country. Doesn't do a thing for me, but there ya go............!
It just goes to show how people are misled by the name.
Bad choice of name? or people suckered by marketing into expected something bigger and better - and less expensive?
I looked up some info. Part of the promotion includes country western performers. I suppose *world* fleadh is a bit like when festival promoters use the term ~ *World Music*
I love all kinds of musical genres. Doesn't mean you can queue up a bunch of sundry players & expect something worth listening to.
Never been but it does seem to attract complaints every year.
Maybe the marketing of it makes some folk think they are getting something they are not. Maybe it is very good for what it is but it is clearly not the same sort of festival as WW or Drum, etc
Is it just me or does this sound a bit like Celtic Connections in Glasgow with lots of great bands in large venues at high prices and almost no sessions in the local pubs.
Even the regular sessions can get a bit threadbare during celtic connections as the regulars are off at some concert or too tired from going out on other nights. OTOH sometimes visitors pop in, though more so I expect if you're based in the city centre.
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace. Agreed!
I was also there and no one would even suspect that there was a festival on. I just saw loads of other musicians tramping about looking for music. All the scheduled sessions seemed to be at night, during the concerts. Honestly, does Castlebar have any native culture? If not, why was it chosen to host this event? Some of the concerts were great (though very expensive; as you say, the whole thing seemed to be a money making scam), but as for there being an actual festival? No evidence at all! I drove though some other small towns in Mayo over the weekend, and there actually seemed to be festivals on; Seriously, music and everything!
"Honestly, does Castlebar have any native culture? If not, why was it chosen to host this event?"
Perhaps that's why Castlebar was chosen - to bring some culture into the town. (I can't comment on it's actual cultural merits, as I don't know the place - I'm assuming that was a rhetorical question). The World Fleadh is, from what I understand, not intended to be a Irish Traditional Music event but, as it's name suggests, something more eclectic, bringing in music and musicians from numerous backgrounds. So it is hardly relevent whether the town that hosts it has much culture or music of its own.
you go, a.g.
Why don't musos start their own bloody association and organise yer own national festival in Ireland at some friendly place and stop waiting for publicans and business folks to do it - they're only into making money.
The National Folk Festival in OZ is a pretty good model...30 or more years now, and just getting better. It's a not-for-profit outfit I believe.
Break down class systems!
That's one of the tame "sessions" if you like. Twenty metres down there'd be a savage one. There could be twenty sessions or more going on in that space.
Run by the people; for the people.
An old Australian tradition.
Form an association, do it for yourselves and take it out of the hands of people who want to make money out of you. OK?
world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
i am writing to tell you how disppointed i am about the world fleadh...there was hardly any music in local pubs(i dont know why there was even a list up of participating pubs holding sessions)..the 1 or 2 pubs that had sessions were private and i was informed they were bands and could not join in..im 20years of age have been playing d box for 15 years,am an active member of comhaltas and have attended all the fleadhs....this was my first time to come to the world fleadh and will be my last...all it is is a money racket..the only ting i enjoyed was the bed and breakfast.. all that was at the world fleadh was expensive concerts..sharon shannon was brill but come on 44.50 i paid 20 to see her in athlone....the town was dead and most of the locals said it wasnt even like a fleadh there was no atmosphere... the so called events in the mall was a disaster since when is a gig rig a trailer????rock music?????? absolutely useless...will be informing everyone at the all ireland about this useless event... the people i met at the fleadh said it was a disgrace...i had 1 good session wit castlebar locals and they were so disappointed with it......
is there anyone out there who believes it was crap???that it wasnt as good as portlaois??
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by accordion girl
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
o and where were the traditional music competitions???????? like in portlaois they had competitions for various instruments, for various titles like world fleadh fiddler, accordion player,flute player??
all the comps i saw were for dancing............
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by accordion girl
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
I passed through Castlebar on the Friday night - didn't even notice it was on.
My sister passed through on Saturday afternoon - couldn't find anything happening at all.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by RockyRoader
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Maybe it's more to do with promoting business and grant farming etc. Would have thought those days are coming to a close though, what with cut backs etc.
At least the likes of the Willie Week / Joe Mooney etc. should be able to stand on their own feet as they have a solid base with good reputations and plenty of punters etc..
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by the wounded hussar
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
wow chill out girl! why you so worked up cos there were no competitions??? if your looking for competitions stick with your comhaltas!! the world fleadh is to be enjoyed! why are people so set on putting it down and spreading the word about how bad it was! sure if you keep thinking like that it'll never take off cos your not giving it a chance! alot of time and hard work goes into organising the event. and fair play to all the organisers cos it aint easy. cheer up and try to see the better side of things rather than always looking for the worst in it and ya might enjoy it!
Castebar was rocking lastnight!!
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by edwina guckian
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
i am chilling but it was crap there was no sessions and thats what i was interested in.... it was money based..wat organising went into it????d only ting was the royal theatre...
i absolutely love the all ireland fleadh
i love willie clancey
i love drumshambo etc etc
but u know paying 36euro on a train to go to castlebar where there was supposed to be sessions in the pubs,sessions on the street,gig rigs with traditional irish music(not rock) when there wasnt was very disappointing.. i was chatn d owners of a few pubs and they said it wasnt really ur typical fleadh..it was only based around concerts in the royal theatre... im not looking for the worst in it.....but ya know the organisers didnt do enough.....as seen from the comments above sum people didnt even know there was a fleadh on..
im not complaining(well actually i am)but i just want to warn people before they waste their money on wat they may tink will be a weekend of trad irish music....twas nothing like wat it was hyped up to be...
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by accordion girl
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
by the way tune in to joe duffy on the radio....im not the only one that thinks the world fleadh was a wash out....
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by accordion girl
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
I agree it's a disgrace, only a money-grabbing racket.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by Awaystray
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Its quite obviously marketing - simply exploitation of the word fleadh to promote a certain vibe or authenticity to bring the crowd in.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by Curtin
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
The musical arm of Rip Off Ireland if you will.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by Patkiwi
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
i too heard there was a lack of sessions and say 'festival vibe'. I know people who did a few sessions at it, they wer booked by the pub and not the festival.
there was a great lineup of concerts for all, yes theyre expensive, but any event in a 2500 seater theatre will be expensive?! so i suppose it would have been better to have more sessions and outdoor stuff organised, but then again i think it was mentioned there was no funding for the event this year, so it was sitting on the the organisers head?
and isnt it better to have the opportunity to get chance to see these groups perform in the west, when else will you have moving hearts, crooked still, frankie gavin etc in the west? im glad the world fleadh takes place each year, and hope it continues too, and lets just hope it gets better and better.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by S.Doherty
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Beggars the question: is Sharon Shannon the only box player in Ireland?. She seems to be appearing in nearly every town in the country. Doesn't do a thing for me, but there ya go............!
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
It just goes to show how people are misled by the name.
Bad choice of name? or people suckered by marketing into expected something bigger and better - and less expensive?
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by RockyRoader
Castlebar 2009
I looked up some info. Part of the promotion includes country western performers. I suppose *world* fleadh is a bit like when festival promoters use the term ~ *World Music*
I love all kinds of musical genres. Doesn't mean you can queue up a bunch of sundry players & expect something worth listening to.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Accordion girl spent 36 euros for a train... I remember spending 1500$+ to end up at sucky festivals!
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by Azalin
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Never been but it does seem to attract complaints every year.
Maybe the marketing of it makes some folk think they are getting something they are not. Maybe it is very good for what it is but it is clearly not the same sort of festival as WW or Drum, etc
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Is it just me or does this sound a bit like Celtic Connections in Glasgow with lots of great bands in large venues at high prices and almost no sessions in the local pubs.
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by prouse
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Even the regular sessions can get a bit threadbare during celtic connections as the regulars are off at some concert or too tired from going out on other nights. OTOH sometimes visitors pop in, though more so I expect if you're based in the city centre.
- chris
# Posted on August 6th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace. Agreed!
I was also there and no one would even suspect that there was a festival on. I just saw loads of other musicians tramping about looking for music. All the scheduled sessions seemed to be at night, during the concerts. Honestly, does Castlebar have any native culture? If not, why was it chosen to host this event? Some of the concerts were great (though very expensive; as you say, the whole thing seemed to be a money making scam), but as for there being an actual festival? No evidence at all! I drove though some other small towns in Mayo over the weekend, and there actually seemed to be festivals on; Seriously, music and everything!
# Posted on August 7th 2009 by klhsadhfahslkdfhsalk
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
"Honestly, does Castlebar have any native culture? If not, why was it chosen to host this event?"
Perhaps that's why Castlebar was chosen - to bring some culture into the town. (I can't comment on it's actual cultural merits, as I don't know the place - I'm assuming that was a rhetorical question). The World Fleadh is, from what I understand, not intended to be a Irish Traditional Music event but, as it's name suggests, something more eclectic, bringing in music and musicians from numerous backgrounds. So it is hardly relevent whether the town that hosts it has much culture or music of its own.
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
" Honestly, does Castlebar have any native culture? " Quote whistleblower
What in the name of all that's holy is "Native culture"?
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Backer
The World Fleadh ~ Castlebar
ragaman, I think my point is the same.
Once you call something The World Fleadh local culture is no longer the reason for being.
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
you go, a.g.
Why don't musos start their own bloody association and organise yer own national festival in Ireland at some friendly place and stop waiting for publicans and business folks to do it - they're only into making money.
The National Folk Festival in OZ is a pretty good model...30 or more years now, and just getting better. It's a not-for-profit outfit I believe.
Break down class systems!
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
"A session" - National Folk Festival Session bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p46y_awwvzI
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
That's one of the tame "sessions" if you like. Twenty metres down there'd be a savage one. There could be twenty sessions or more going on in that space.
Run by the people; for the people.
An old Australian tradition.
Form an association, do it for yourselves and take it out of the hands of people who want to make money out of you. OK?
# Posted on August 8th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: world fleadh in castlebar 2009 was a disgrace
Backer wondered: "What in the name of all that's holy is "Native culture"?"
“Native Culture” just means culture that comes from a certain place, not being brought in from elsewhere. A fairly common term, I thought.
# Posted on August 9th 2009 by klhsadhfahslkdfhsalk
"in the name of all that's holy"
& who is at liberty to experience local culture?
"Uluru's secrets must be preserved"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/10/uluru-climbing-ban-aboriginal
# Posted on August 9th 2009 by Ben Steen