May 17th – 25th, 2009
www. comhaltas.ie
Based in Ennis since 1974, Fleadh Nua is an annual week-long festival of top Irish traditional entertainment, held in Ennis, the capital town of County Clare. 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the New festival with acts such as The Chieftans in concert in Ennis Cathedral on Wednesday, 20th May. Glór Irish Music Centre will host on Friday, 22nd May top young Irish traditional acts Aos Óg plus the Hounds of Ulster, a flute & drum music group based in Whiteabbey, County Antrim. Their music is an exciting combination of Irish, Ulster Scots and Scottish traditional music.
The Saturday night band in Glór will be Clare’s renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band who will be celebrating their centenary. Sunday night, 24th May sees the welcome return of Donegal fiddle maestro Tommy Peoples to Fleadh Nua. A brief summary of some Fleadh Nua events during this week of traditional entertainment (much of it free of charge!) is as follows:
• Singers’ Club
• free lunch-time concerts
• free afternoon session tune workshops
• nightly Club Fleadh Nua sessions
• music, song & dance workshops
• traditional pub sessions
• master classes
• concert performances
• street and gig rig entertainment