August 6th – 12th 2008
www.feaklefestival.ie

Feakle is now firmly established as the home for the music of East Clare. Its annual Festival though organized by a voluntary committee is hailed by many as the best for its concerts and sessions. Fans of the Festival travel from all corners of the world, many returning every year, reflecting the standard and caliber of the music and atmosphere to be had at the Festival.

Last year the Feakle Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary with the introduction of some novel and innovative additions to its regular programme of events. The House Concert was a major success as was the early evening concert for young local musicians, establishing that the music of East Clare has many inheritors. The Festival Walk took the oraginisers by surprise as over 120 people and 12 dogs headed off on the 10K walk, as a result of the demand two are planned for this year’s Festival!

To mark the 20th event the Festival produced the CD, “Reeling Through the Years.” The CD not just honours Feakle’s prized local musicians but also many of the visiting musicians who have a long association with the Festival. The album is a combination of tracks taken from recordings of concerts and sessions at the Festival through out the past 20 years. This unique collection of music is still available directly from the Festival and its web site, www.feaklefestival.ie

The Festival is delighted to announce that work has commenced on up-dating the facilities in the Community Hall. In the heart of the village the hall is home to the Festival office and many of the events on the programme.

The workshops continue to be very popular and attendance has increased yearly. Besides the regular classes this year’s Festival sees the introduction of four new workshops, for Whistle, Beginner’s Concertina, Sean Nós Dancing and a day workshop in Traditional Song Writing.

The 21st Feakle Festival programme will be announced in May and the organizers promise that it will be as ever a great programme of music, song and dance.