Fleadh Cheoil Luimnígh On The June Bank Holiday In Kilfinane
What a weekend we here at Ballyhoura CCE have in-store for you all! For Competitors, Trad Lovers, Families, Foodies and the Outdoor Enthusiasts, there is something to offer everyone! Alongside the competitions, which all Limerick competitors must enter to progress to the All Ireland Fleadh, the weekend has a great Fringe Festival. A top line up of musicians are booked for FREE music seisiúns in various locations from Wednesday 31st to Monday 05th, including the wonderful Bobby Gardiner, Nell Ní Chróinín, Caoimhin & Sean O’Fearghail, Ryan O’Donnell, Ronan Ryan, Cliona Halley and many more. The programme of events involves a Hup na Houra concert, in the beautifully restored Church of Ireland, featuring a return of the fantastic team of Liam Flanagan, Caoimhin O’Fheargail and Derek Hickey and amazing dance choreographed by Ciara Flanagan with Rachael Lynch and Micháel Fogerty. The Branch is hosting a FREE outdoor gig on the street on Saturday night, where the renowned band, North Cregg are reforming to perform with Bernadette Nic Gabhann, a Meath fiddler, will be launching her solo fiddle cd – Here to Play on the same night. Saturday night will also have an on the street Regional Dance performance by a number of All-Ireland set dancing winners, with a Cheili Mór for our audience. Sunday will have more on street Trad entertainment and plenty of seisiúns with a collaboration from Comhaltas Branches in the evening.
All throughout the weekend Ballyhoura CCE have organised activities that are aimed at families and visitors, to Kilfinane, a beautiful country town, nestled in the heart of the Ballyhoura Mountains. Family Fun days, a Pop up Gaeltacht, Outdoor Markets, íoga trí nGaelige, Art Workshops, Historical and Trad Trails are all lined up for the weekend, meaning that even those who are not ‘Trad’ followers can come for a mighty weekend of craic!
Ballyhoura CCE was established in 2015 by a dedicated group of 11 individuals with the aim of promoting the traditional arts in the locality. This voluntary, not for profit group, runs accessible and affordable music lessons everyTuesday, provides an instrument hire scheme, runs monthly Seisiúns and now has over 200 members. Hup na Houra their sell out Traditional show, which they ran last year attracted over 1300 visitors, including the Minister for Tourism, Patrick O’Donovan, and representatives of Failte Ireland, and featuring some of Ireland’s most famous traditional performers. The show will be re run over Mondays and Tuesdays in July and along with the Fleadh Cheoil, the resurgence of music and dance is an example of volunteerism at its finest in an effort to promote the Traditional Art Forms Kilfinane as a beautiful tourist destination.
The Fleadh will be the culmination of a number of groups working together to attract as many visitors as possible to Kilfinane, with the hope of them returning when they see how much is on offer in this lovely place. A full line up of events is available on Facebook at CCEBallyhoura where regular updates will be posted so please follow, like and share the page. For any queries contact fleadhluimnigh@gmail.com or 0874548501.