Seated: Maria McCarthy (AIB), Dympna O Brien (AIB), Mayor Francis Foley, Ann O Kelly (Tournafulla Eggs), Martina O Connell (Committee),
Back: Celine McNally (Committee), Martin O Donoghue (Committee), Nora Quill (Committee), Paul Morris (Kostal), Kevin Murphy (Committee), Councillor Liam Galvin, John O Sullivan (Committee), Tadhg O Maolcatha (Templeglantine Comhaltas), Mary O Connor (Committee) & Vincent Sheehy ,Chairperson of Fleadh by the Feale. – Photo Paul Ward. – Fleadh by the Feale Launch
Abbeyfeale will host its 29th edition of Fleadh by the Feale across this May Bank Holiday Weekend.
From Thursday through to Monday, the lovely West Limerick town will be alive with traditional music, dance and song, along with Bone Com-petition playing.
The origins of the Fleadh date back to 1993 when the town outstandingly hosted Fleadh Cheoil Luimnigh. Such was its success, Abbeyfeale was again the choice in the following Summer, and thereafter (from ’95 onwards), Fleadh by the Feale has become a permanent fixture in the town, which borders Limerick and Kerry.
The centre-piece of the weekend is a Traditional Celebrity Concert featuring Máirtín O’Connor (champion button accor-dionist) Trio, supported by Coláiste Íde agus Iósef at the Glórach Theatre on Saturday, 8pm. In the run-up to the concert, there will be a Traditional Mass and entertainment in The Squa-re from Templeglantine Comhaltas Group.
A Gathering Session of Music, Song and Dance (TJ O’Connell’s) will help open the weekend festival on Thursday, 9.30pm.
A Traditional Street Busking Competition is part of the programme on Friday, as is entertainment from Athea and Tournafulla Wren Boys, while Joe Carrig is special guest of West Limerick Singing Club at The Ramble Inn. In Fr. Casey’s GAA clubhouse, Uí Bhriain Céilí Band will perform.
Sunday’s itinerary includes Story Telling with Daisy Kearney (St. Ita’s Hall, 3pm), Polka/Slide Recital Tribute to Dan Murphy (Murphy’s Bar, 4pm), and Comhaltas performances from Tournafulla and Ballydonoghue/Lisselton on The Gig Rig.
The festival will conclude with The Ballaugh Ramblers (6.45pm) and All-Ireland Bone Com-petitions.
Workshops will be held across the five days with the likes of Tom Morrow (fiddle), Brian O’ Loughlin (flute), Elaine Reilly (banjo), Róisín Ryan (singing) Conor O’Loughlin (concertina) and Daithí Gormley, accor-dion.
Full festival details are included inside today’s Weekly Observer.