The biggest Irish music festival makes its way to ‘The Lake County’

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has awarded Cavan Town the prestigious honour of hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2010. Cavan is celebrating the announcement following a meeting at Comhaltas headquarters in Monkstown, Dublin on September 12, at which the Ardchomhairle voted to stage Ireland’s premier traditional culture event in the Lake County.

The Director General of Comhaltas, Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, said that Tullamore, who has hosted the event for the past three years, has set the bar very high for future venues. “Their innovation, dedication, professionalism, hospitality and attention to detail were inspiring. They have placed our cultural traditions on a pedestal and have raised the morale of the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the Fleadhanna for the last three years”.

Senator Ó Murchú said that a very significant thing about the Fleadh was the effective partnership which exists between Comhaltas, Local Authorities and other public agencies, Gardaí, sponsors, local media, the business community, venue proprietors and the general public. He is positive that Cavan, which has a long tradition and heritage of Irish music and culture, will seamlessly take up the gauntlet and continue on this trend very admirably.

Although Cavan has not hosted an All Ireland Fleadh in recent times, it was one of the first venues to stage the big event. In 1954, Cavan hosted the fourth Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann during the formative years of the Comhaltas movement.

The Fleadh which is now an 8 day event will officially open on Sunday August 15 until Sunday August 22 incorporating the Scoil Éigse (the Comhaltas Summer school) running for the full week before the event and Seachtain na hÉigse. The Fleadh will include competitions, events and concerts such as the awarding of the Fleadh Ard Olamh, the overseas concert and the excitement of the All Ireland Senior Ceili Band competition.

Speaking after the announcement, the County Arts Officer, Catriona O’Reilly said the Fleadh will greatly enrich the cultural life of the entire region. County Manager Jack Keyes added that the event will be a unique opportunity for Cavan to showcase its talents as well as bringing a welcome boost to the local economy during these difficult times.

The 2010 All-Ireland Fleadh promises to attract over 200,000 visitors and 11,000 musicians from all over the world. The fleadh competitions alone attract over 4,000 competitors annually from all over Ireland, Britain, Europe, USA and as far away as the Tokyo branch.

The All Ireland Fleadh which plays host to hundreds of sessions will confirm Cavan’s place at the heart of Ireland’s living tradition.

For further information contact Kathryn Byrne / Glenn Hogarty / Karen Morgan at Limelight Communications on 00353 1 668 0600 or 085 233 6033