I was wondering, can anyone explain if, and if so, how, someone who's not from Ireland can enroll for the All-Ireland Fleadh? I've read through the regulations, which are very vague on the subject, and so far, my three e-mails sent to the contact adress have spectacularly failed to be answered.
I'm from the Netherlands, and I'd really like to go to the summerschool and the fleadh for the first time.
Being completely outside the system I may be ignorant of the finer details, but I thought the start point would be your local branch; obviously you are already at a disadvantage here.
As I understand it, every province in Ireland sends competitors; for the purposes of the competition England counts as a province of Ireland !
Scotland also I believe.
The United States is TWO provinces, East and West.
For the Summer School and visiting the Fleadh you should have no difficulties, it's entering the competitions that usually requires some prior assessment.
You would need to compete at the lower levels and work your way to the Fleadh.
You can't just show up on the doorstep and announce yourself.
If you read the Comhaltas rules, there are provisions for competing in a regional Fleadh competition. For example, last year a young man from Florida competed in the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh in America because there is no regional Fleadh in the South. He won the competition too.
If you are not in a country with a qualifying Fleadh:-
"Competitors for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, living in countries not included in this rule should
contact Comhaltas Head Office via email – eolas@comhaltas.ie - not later than 15th. July".
Going by previous years, you will have to audition to see if you reach qualifying standard - that is how the Australian and Japanese competitors in previous All Irelands got in.
When I went to the Fleadh in 1975 in Donegal there had been some complaints from the South that this was too far to travel. The number of Americans attending seems to suggest this is nonsense anyway.Then a competitor turned up from Australia for the Fiddle contest. The adjudicator quoted the complaints and pointed out this very determined young man by way of riposte !
( Yes, I know Donegal is in Eire, but it might seem a long way from Cork, for instance. )
Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
I was wondering, can anyone explain if, and if so, how, someone who's not from Ireland can enroll for the All-Ireland Fleadh? I've read through the regulations, which are very vague on the subject, and so far, my three e-mails sent to the contact adress have spectacularly failed to be answered.
I'm from the Netherlands, and I'd really like to go to the summerschool and the fleadh for the first time.
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by Tijn Berends
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
Being completely outside the system I may be ignorant of the finer details, but I thought the start point would be your local branch; obviously you are already at a disadvantage here.
As I understand it, every province in Ireland sends competitors; for the purposes of the competition England counts as a province of Ireland !
Scotland also I believe.
The United States is TWO provinces, East and West.
For the Summer School and visiting the Fleadh you should have no difficulties, it's entering the competitions that usually requires some prior assessment.
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
Ha Tijn,
Ik heb ook al vaker mee gedaan aan de Fleadh Cheoil, er is een mogelijkheid voor 'Buitenlanders'. Ze hebben altijd 2 plekken over.
Vriendelijke groet,
Sjoerd
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by Dark Raven
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
Hee Sjoerd,
hoe geef je je dan op? En is er dan ook een voorronde voor ofzo?
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by Tijn Berends
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
You would need to compete at the lower levels and work your way to the Fleadh.
You can't just show up on the doorstep and announce yourself.
If you read the Comhaltas rules, there are provisions for competing in a regional Fleadh competition. For example, last year a young man from Florida competed in the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh in America because there is no regional Fleadh in the South. He won the competition too.
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by MorganYYZ
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
If you are not in a country with a qualifying Fleadh:-
"Competitors for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, living in countries not included in this rule should
contact Comhaltas Head Office via email – eolas@comhaltas.ie - not later than 15th. July".
Going by previous years, you will have to audition to see if you reach qualifying standard - that is how the Australian and Japanese competitors in previous All Irelands got in.
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by BigDavy
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
Ah, I just got a reply from Comhaltas (to the email I sent them a month ago with the same question), they say I should phone them.
Anyway, I'll mail the Head Office then, see what they have to say about it.
# Posted on May 5th 2011 by Tijn Berends
Re: Fleadh Cheoil - Foreign Enrollment?
When I went to the Fleadh in 1975 in Donegal there had been some complaints from the South that this was too far to travel. The number of Americans attending seems to suggest this is nonsense anyway.Then a competitor turned up from Australia for the Fiddle contest. The adjudicator quoted the complaints and pointed out this very determined young man by way of riposte !
( Yes, I know Donegal is in Eire, but it might seem a long way from Cork, for instance. )
# Posted on May 6th 2011 by Guernsey Pete