Fermanagh Fleadh: Traditional music, culture and heritage

“We’re incredibly happy that the Fleadh went so well,” said Fiona Crudden, County Board Chair, who commented that organisers were delighted by the “great numbers” that attended the sessions and events, especially the Fleadh Cultural Community Parade and Gig Rig on Sunday.

Paul, Helen, Chloe and Joanne Smyth.

“Sunday was the Gig Rig in the Roslea Shamrocks Complex, where we had a number of different musicians from all around Fermanagh who came up and performed.

“Then we ended the Gig Rig with Pólca 4 and they were fabulous. They are a band from Kerry that came up and they just made the crowd go wild with dancing and everything.

St. Mary's Mountain Road Pipe band.

“Nice lively music, and it was great to see everybody out supporting the Fleadh from around Rosslea and further afield,” said Fiona, explaining that musicians travelled from as far as Longford and Cork to join the Traditional music sessions.

“We were so excited that the sessions in the local bars were so well supported, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” she added.

The Fleadh concert on the Friday night was opened by three Traditional music legends; Pat McManus, Gabriel McArdle and Jim McGrath.

“It was great to have the three of them on the stage at Rosslea on Friday. Gabriel, of course, is launching an [album] shortly, the ‘Fermanagh Blackbird’, and he was kind enough to give us a sneak peek of that,” said Fiona, adding: “And he allowed some of his albums to be sold early there.

“We also had guests John Daly and Aidan Connolly, [both] fiddle players, and then we had Garadice, who are mostly based in Leitrim, not too far away,” said Fiona, going on to note that Garadice’s lead singer is Eleanor Shanley.

Eleanor Shanley of Garadice.

“So that was absolutely fabulous to get some incredibly well-known names all on the one stage throughout the evening,” she added.

Then Saturday night seen a great crowd attend the singing session in Derrygannon Hall.

“It was absolutely jam-packed. We had probably over 100 people at it and there were quite a few familiar faces but lots of new faces in and around with the singing session which is great to see and we’re hoping that the singing and storytelling that happened at singing sessions is more encouraged at other sessions as well,” said Fiona.

Cahir Manley.

Competitions

The Fleadh competitions were very well supported by young Traditional musicians and performers.

John Joe Flynn with won the U12 accordion.

Talking about the importance of encouraging children and young people to perform Traditional Irish music, Fiona said: “The whole point of Comhaltas is to encourage passing on our musical tradition and our cultural heritage to the next generation.

“So the competitions give the young people something to work towards and whenever they’re in competition they get to meet other people their age, who also have the same interests and perhaps playing the same instruments.

Sarah McKeever who won Under 12 Fiddle in slow air.

“They get to find out little tips and tricks from their friends and create new friends, get to know people and really network.

“As well as preserving their own tradition, they’re also gaining skills. Music is a skill that’s very easily carried throughout life and you’ll always find a corner somewhere in the world that you can set up with your accordion or your tin whistle and people will love to hear you,” Fiona told this newspaper.