The current edition of 'Irish Music' magazine carries a full-page ad and a lengthy piece of PR regarding something called 'The World Fleadh', apparently the brainwave of one Eric Cunningham. Said Cunningham is, according to the PR, "an award-winning composer and critically acclaimed producer who has performed in concert halls worldwide and has also performed on Broadway. He holds a first class honours Masters in Music degree, was awarded the Sean O Riada memorial award from the National University of Ireland and Irish 'Outstanding Young Person of the Year award'" by Ireland's Junior Chamber of Commerce."
Now, said Cunningham is proposing to mount something called ' The World Fleadh' this year, running from August 14-20 in Ballybunion, County Kerry and advertises his site as http://www.theworldfleadh.com. However, don't bother investigating as it's not up and running yet.
The list of musicians supposedly booked to play the festival is mightily impressive - basically all the big names minus Altan, The Chieftains or anyone involved in Planxty or The Bothy Band. Such absences might intrigue anyone of a legalistic inclination.
But, and it's a very big qualification, for the life of me I can't imagine how the blessed (and small) resort of Ballybunion is going to cope with the influx of its festival's lengthy roster of bands and musicians - it'll have enough trouble just putting these up, let alone any festival-goers. Add to that extremely poor transport connections and very few places serving food and the whole shebang smacks of disaster.
The World Fleadh is currently advertised in Set Dancing News. From what is being advertised it looks like the emphasis is very much on set dancing, rather than on Irish traditional music as such. It will therefore tend to attract set dancers rather than musicians.
Mc Peakes held a world fleadh here in Belfast. I wouldnt be an advocate of it, I mean, who decides they have enough resources, experienced adjudicators and information on the music and language to justify saying that.
In my opinion something like that can only be done through co-operating with different music organisations and coming to an intelligent set of boundaries.
Had they collaborated with the comhaltas and other music schools around the WORLD, not just in Ireland, then I could understand it and maybe even support it as being fully informed and inclusive.
Then they CAN call it a world fleadh and be within their rights to describe it as such.
It could be a disaster, but it could be great too. Better to fail than not to try at all! Like the Americans say you haven't been trying unless you're a millionaire or bankrupt by 30.
With a lot of hard work, & if he's got the business model right, there's no reason why not. Lots of small towns host big music festivals.
The bands which have been booked will probably understand that it's more risky than usual, but it's their decision to accept the booking, and if I want to risk the price of a ticket and the chance of a miserable week, then that's my lookout. Sometimes it's just having a go that gets things going.
The 'World Fleadh' has absolutely nothing to do with Francie McPeake III who will be running his own 3rd ITM 'World Championships' in Belfast in 2006.
S1obhan wrote 'lots of small towns host big music festivals'. Yep, plenty do in the UK but the equivalents in Ireland (Drumshanbo, Ballyshannon, Tubbercurry and, of course, Miltown Malbay) have taken years to build up to their current status. Many others have fallen by the wayside.
Until I'm persuaded otherwise, the whole Ballybunion affair stinks of fish.
I was at Ballybunion a few years ago, and what I could smell coming in off the sea when I was walking along the strand on a warm day in August certainly wasn't fish
Perhaps the Town Council has improved matters since.
Just back from the Gathering festival in Killarney over the weekend and this "World Fleadh" was mentioned on more than one occasion. This ambitious festival is being run by ceol chiarrai productions, the group that's behind "To Dance on the Moon" and "Spirit of Ireland". I spoke to the two main people behind this venture and all will be revealed in march in Dublin at the grand launch of the festival. Its definately going ahead, although there is a feeling that the small town of Ballybunion may not be able to accommodate a festival of this size!!! (spill over into Listowel for a fleadh before the fleadh????)
The site has got some info up on it now. I'm really interested in this, some pretty big names performing. La Bottine, Solas, Lunasa, Flook, and many more. 100K in awards from competitions? Sure beats the local fleadh, anyway. Anyone have any more info on this? People i've talked to locally, some pretty informed people, have never heard of this. Thanks a million.
The World Fleadh
The World Fleadh
Now here' s one for you.
The current edition of 'Irish Music' magazine carries a full-page ad and a lengthy piece of PR regarding something called 'The World Fleadh', apparently the brainwave of one Eric Cunningham. Said Cunningham is, according to the PR, "an award-winning composer and critically acclaimed producer who has performed in concert halls worldwide and has also performed on Broadway. He holds a first class honours Masters in Music degree, was awarded the Sean O Riada memorial award from the National University of Ireland and Irish 'Outstanding Young Person of the Year award'" by Ireland's Junior Chamber of Commerce."
Now, said Cunningham is proposing to mount something called ' The World Fleadh' this year, running from August 14-20 in Ballybunion, County Kerry and advertises his site as http://www.theworldfleadh.com. However, don't bother investigating as it's not up and running yet.
The list of musicians supposedly booked to play the festival is mightily impressive - basically all the big names minus Altan, The Chieftains or anyone involved in Planxty or The Bothy Band. Such absences might intrigue anyone of a legalistic inclination.
But, and it's a very big qualification, for the life of me I can't imagine how the blessed (and small) resort of Ballybunion is going to cope with the influx of its festival's lengthy roster of bands and musicians - it'll have enough trouble just putting these up, let alone any festival-goers. Add to that extremely poor transport connections and very few places serving food and the whole shebang smacks of disaster.
Do I detect a whiff of a scam in the air?
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by Floss the Tethers
Re: The World Fleadh
Didn't the McPeakes run a World Fleadh thingy in that other "blessed & small resort" - Belfast, last year?
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: The World Fleadh
They did, or intended to. I don't know, because I didn't hear anything about it afterwards. Did anyone else. Who won ?
# Posted on February 16th 2006 by Kenny
Re: The World Fleadh
The World Fleadh is currently advertised in Set Dancing News. From what is being advertised it looks like the emphasis is very much on set dancing, rather than on Irish traditional music as such. It will therefore tend to attract set dancers rather than musicians.
# Posted on February 16th 2006 by lazyhound
Re: The World Fleadh
Mc Peakes held a world fleadh here in Belfast. I wouldnt be an advocate of it, I mean, who decides they have enough resources, experienced adjudicators and information on the music and language to justify saying that.
In my opinion something like that can only be done through co-operating with different music organisations and coming to an intelligent set of boundaries.
Had they collaborated with the comhaltas and other music schools around the WORLD, not just in Ireland, then I could understand it and maybe even support it as being fully informed and inclusive.
Then they CAN call it a world fleadh and be within their rights to describe it as such.
# Posted on February 16th 2006 by blas
Re: The World Fleadh
It could be a disaster, but it could be great too. Better to fail than not to try at all! Like the Americans say you haven't been trying unless you're a millionaire or bankrupt by 30.
With a lot of hard work, & if he's got the business model right, there's no reason why not. Lots of small towns host big music festivals.
The bands which have been booked will probably understand that it's more risky than usual, but it's their decision to accept the booking, and if I want to risk the price of a ticket and the chance of a miserable week, then that's my lookout. Sometimes it's just having a go that gets things going.
# Posted on February 16th 2006 by S1obhan
Re: The World Fleadh
The 'World Fleadh' has absolutely nothing to do with Francie McPeake III who will be running his own 3rd ITM 'World Championships' in Belfast in 2006.
S1obhan wrote 'lots of small towns host big music festivals'. Yep, plenty do in the UK but the equivalents in Ireland (Drumshanbo, Ballyshannon, Tubbercurry and, of course, Miltown Malbay) have taken years to build up to their current status. Many others have fallen by the wayside.
Until I'm persuaded otherwise, the whole Ballybunion affair stinks of fish.
G
# Posted on February 17th 2006 by Floss the Tethers
Re: The World Fleadh
I was at Ballybunion a few years ago, and what I could smell coming in off the sea when I was walking along the strand on a warm day in August certainly wasn't fish
Perhaps the Town Council has improved matters since.
# Posted on February 18th 2006 by lazyhound
Re: The World Fleadh
Did that smell 'effluence' your decision not to return to Ballybunion Trevor!
# Posted on February 18th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: The World Fleadh
Just back from the Gathering festival in Killarney over the weekend and this "World Fleadh" was mentioned on more than one occasion. This ambitious festival is being run by ceol chiarrai productions, the group that's behind "To Dance on the Moon" and "Spirit of Ireland". I spoke to the two main people behind this venture and all will be revealed in march in Dublin at the grand launch of the festival. Its definately going ahead, although there is a feeling that the small town of Ballybunion may not be able to accommodate a festival of this size!!! (spill over into Listowel for a fleadh before the fleadh????)
# Posted on February 20th 2006 by Jonathan Roche
Re: The World Fleadh
The site has got some info up on it now. I'm really interested in this, some pretty big names performing. La Bottine, Solas, Lunasa, Flook, and many more. 100K in awards from competitions? Sure beats the local fleadh, anyway. Anyone have any more info on this? People i've talked to locally, some pretty informed people, have never heard of this. Thanks a million.
# Posted on February 21st 2006 by fiddle85