TOP ACTS CONFIRMED FOR FLEADH CHEOIL 2015
August 9th to 16th, 2015
The Fleadh Cheoil is Ireland’s biggest traditional Irish music festival. It’s a wonderful celebration of Irish culture, music, song and dance, and takes place over an 8 day period between 9th-16th August next. The Fleadh will play host to a novel mix of established trad acts as well as exciting newcomers, showcasing the very best in traditional music, as well as innovative performances that will inspire discussion and debate as well as thrill audiences.
The Second Coming is one such performance. A spectacular fusion of traditional Irish music, song and dance with aerial circus, theatre, narrative and film, this incredible show is inspired by the poetry of W. B. Yeats and features a stunning live score composed by harpist Michael Rooney. The concert takes place on Fleadh opening night Sunday 9th August at 8pm.
This show will take place at the iconic Hawk’s Well theatre, a location which will also host well known Fleadh favourites like Liam O’Flynn, Seamie O’Dowd, Paddy Glackin, Maura O’Connell, Zoe Conway, Flook, Danú, Dervish, The Speks and many, many more.
Another major event will see a specially commissioned concert based on the life of Sligo fiddle playing legend James Morrison, which will take place at the Knocknarea Arena at 8pm on Thursday August 13th. Produced by fiddle player Oisín Mac Diarmada and involving a host of established and exciting newcomers, Music of Transatlantic Discovery will describe the journey taken by Morrison from the rural heartland of County Sligo at the turn of the 20th century, through to emigration to New York, where he – along with other Sligo music legends Michael Coleman and Paddy Killoran – became some of the most important and influential recording artists of the early gramophone era.
Other events which catch the eye include set dancing workshops, through to singing sessions and readings. Also, for the many visitors who will take to the great outdoors to enjoy some of the wonderful Sligo scenery, there will be guided field trips to nearby locations such as to Knocknarea Mountain – located just minutes from Sligo town, and where Queen Maeve of Connacht is reputed to be buried – a huge burial cairn marks the spot at the mountain top.
Other walks will take place on a daily basis, and will be escorted by members of Sligo Field Club, as well as by other experts in the areas of local history, heritage and archaeology.
Sligo’s open air Gig Rig was one of the big successes of last year’s Fleadh, and we can confirm that the Gig Rig will make a return this Summer. It will host a range of well known names as well as up-and-coming acts in the centre of Sligo’s pedestrianized zone, and where access to all of the acts on stage is free. Acts like Téada, Moxie, John Carty & At The Racket and the Dartry Céilí Band will ensure that the crowds are entertained ‘til late in the evening, and visitors will be able to wander the nearby streets to listen - or take part in – any number of pop-up street music sessions that are at the core of Irish culture.
As well as running open air concerts, street sessions, céilís, competitions, Irish-language events and workshops for all levels of musicians, from beginners to advanced, the Fleadh will enable visitors to take in a truly amazing visitor experience. Located along the Wild Atlantic Way (WAW), Sligo has incredible beaches, mountains, golf and surf destinations on our doorstep, and we want to ensure that our visitors get a chance to sample some of the many delights the region has to offer.
In addition, in this, the celebration of the 150th birthday of Sligo’s most famous poet W.B. Yeats, the Fleadh will provide a platform for many different Yeats-themed events taking place throughout the Summer.
All in all, we expect Fleadh 2015 to draw large audiences from home and abroad for what will be an exciting mix of cultural and music events. Sligo also hosted the Fleadh last year, and we’ve since been awarded a Purple Flag in recognition of the town’s ability to run a large scale festival in a safe and secure environment. This, allied to our experience of having hosted the Fleadh already, should ensure that Fleadh Cheoil 2015 will be one that our visitors will enjoy and remember for many years to come.
For further information visit the website www.fleadhcheoil.ie, email: pro@fleadhcheoil.ie or Tel: 071 9111 444.
