Fingal Fleadh launched in Swords Castle
(from left) Pippa Flanagan, Erin Keagan, Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Anthony Lavin, Lana Rice, Chief Executive of Fingal Paul Reid and Megan McCarthy and Lara Lodge
Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Anthony Lavin, and Chief Executive of Fingal Paul Reid were joined by the dancers from Elbadri McAuley Baird Academy of Irish Dancing in Swords Castle to launch the Fingal Fleadh. A brilliant week of Ceol, Craic agus Damhsa is promised as the Fleadh returns to Swords from September 6th to 9th with a hugely exciting programme of free concerts, workshops and sessions from some of the biggest names in traditional Irish music. Swords Castle will be at the heart of the event with concerts from Kíla (Friday), Danú (Saturday), The Dixie Micks and the Whileaways (Sunday) in the Castle Marquee, and lots more but you can enjoy the tunes throughout Swords with the four day Pub Session Trail. New to this year’s Fleadh there will be a great free family event in Blanchardstown with a Céilí Mór in Blanchardstown Civic Offices on Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5pm with the Clonsilla/Blanchardstown branch of Comhaltas Slí Dhála. If you enjoyed the Fleadh Cheoil in Drogheda, and are missing the tunes, this will be music to your ears!
(from left) Kyle Jones, Lara Lodge, Pippa Flannagan, Mayor of Fingal Anthony Lavin, CE of Fingal Paul Reid, Holly Jones, Lana Rice, Julie Anne Coleman and Ellie Mooney.
Fingal County Council events team, working with many traditional groups, have put together a four day programme of free events which will bring Swords Castle to life with music, dancing, lectures and an Artisan Food and Craft Fayre. Dublin Comhaltas will perform as well as The Mulcahy Family and Dance Hall Academy Irish dancing school and there will be a Street Seisiún competition. This year is Bliain na Gaeilge and the Irish language will also be to the fore at the Fleadh with John Spillane treating people to Irish Songs we Learned at School in the Atrium County Hall on Saturday at 1 and Pop up Gaeltachts taking place. Local pubs are delighted to host the Session trail starting from Thursday night and continuing Friday and Saturday night and Saturday afternoon from 4pm & Sunday from 6pm with artists including Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne, Ciotóg, The Mulcahys and John Spillane. Visitors to the Fleadh will also find a huge variety of local eateries to check out during their stay.
Speaking about the upcoming Fleadh, Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said “ Fingal Fleadh 2018 is shaping up to be even better than the hugely successful inaugural Fleadh last year. The Fleadh, as well as giving Fingal residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy the very best of Irish traditional music and culture, will also be of great value to the local economy. ”
Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Anthony Lavin said “I am really looking forward to the Fingal Fleadh which is a great opportunity to showcase the talents of local and visiting traditional musicians, singers and dancers. The four day event will provide wonderful free family entertainment for the local community”
The Fleadh will open with an intimate concert by Lumiere in the stunning Chapel in Swords’ Medieval Castle on Thursday September 6th at 8pm (invitation only) and will continue until Sunday evening. So make sure to come along to what promises to be a brilliant weekend of music, dance, and family fun and remember it’s all Free at the Fleadh!.
For full details see Facebook at www.facebook.com/FingalFleadhFair or www.facebook.com/EventsinFingal or www.fingal.ie