Fleadh Set to Bring the Best of Traditional Irish Culture to Portlaoise
Pictured for the Launch of the Leinster Fleadh Cheoil were Standing: John Conway, chairperson of Laois Fleadh Cheoil; Brigid Conway (Clonaslee Comhaltas), Mary Collier (Camross Comhaltas), Mary Phelan (Portlaoise Comhaltas), Aaron MacKessy (Leinster Comhaltas PRO) Anthony Ging, Pauline Bell (Portlaoise Comhaltas Sec) Laura Thompson, (Portlaoise Comhaltas) P.J Phelan; (seated) Millie Fitzpatrick, (Leinster Ard Caomhairle Delegate), Jody Conway, (Leinster Comhaltas Chair), Catherine Lalor (Laois Comhaltas Chair), Jason Conroy (Chairperson of the Fleadh Cheoil Executive Committee) and Tommy Mulligan (secretary of Fleadh Cheoil) Photos: Denis Byrne
THE Leinster fleadh (Fleadh Laighean), one of Ireland’s premier regional festivals celebrating traditional Irish music, song, dance and language, will return to Portlaoise this month.
Organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the event attracts thousands of musicians, dancers, competitors and visitors from across the 12 counties of Leinster every year.
The Portlaoise comhaltas â one of the local branches of the international comhaltas group, an organisation dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish music, song and dance â originally established in the 1960s and reformed in 2009, will play host to this year’s fleadh, the third time it has done so since its re-establishment.
At the heart of every Fleadh Laighean is its prestigious competition programme. Competitors of all ages, having qualified through their respective county fleadhanna, will gather to compete in more than 50 disciplines encompassing traditional music, singing, dancing and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which will take place in Belfast from 2-9 August.
The festival will officially commence with an opening night celebration at the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Sunday 21 June at 6pm. The evening will welcome distinguished guests, local and county representatives of comhaltas, sponsors and supporters of the fleadh. The entertainment will include: Portlaoise Comhaltas U12 group, Laois Community Choir, Music Generation Laois Traditional Orchestra and Noel Stapleton & Friends.
The competition segment will begin on Friday 26 June at 11am with set dancing in the Killeshin Hotel, while céilí dancing and U12 grupaí cheoil competitions will be hosted at St Mary’s CBS and Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise.
Alongside the competition aspects of the fleadh, a vibrant programme of cultural activities and entertainment will also take place and will include live traditional music sessions in a variety of local venues, beginning on Thursday evening with a singing session and pop-up gaeltacht. Music will continue throughout the weekend in pubs and venues on Main Street;
live music performances on Saturday 27 June at 4pm at Hynds Square; and Fitzmaurice Place (as part of the Old Fort Festival) will host live music performances and interactive ‘try an instrument’ experience for all ages on Sunday 28 June.
