Groups of Traditional Irish musicians from Limerick, Clare and Kerry are expected to gather at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Co. Clare, for a unique musical event on Sunday May 8th. Dubbed ‘The Fleadh Nua Music Trail’ this event will take visitors on a musical journey to hear traditional music performed in a 19th century setting. The event will run from 2.30pm – 5.00pm.
This is the first time that an event of this kind has been hosted by Shannon Heritage at Bunratty Folk Park. It is the brainchild of the Fleadh Nua traditional Irish music festival committee in Ennis, and is part of an outreach programme designed by them to bring trad. music to a wider audience. The event will coincide with the launch of their Fleadh Nua 2005 programme at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
“This will be a unique cultural experience and a great day out for families and traditional music enthusiasts alike. It is part of our commitment to bring the traditional music of the festival out and about”, says Domhnall Ó Loingsigh, Chairman, Ennis Fleadh Nua Committee.
The experience for the visitor will take the form of a traditional Irish music trail, just as each building in the Folk Park represents a different area in the Shannon region, each house will showcase different styles of music, song and dance that are unique to that area. There is plenty of scope for a variety of music treats throughout the Folk Park and on the village street
“When the Fleadh Nua Festival first approached us with the idea we were delighted. The Folk Park is a living, working museum, portraying what life was like in rural Ireland over 150 years ago, and traditional Irish music would have been a huge factor in the lives of people in those times, as it still is today. It would have been part of how they celebrated life and mourned their losses, we embraced the idea as it is such a natural fit for the Folk Park,” says John Ruddle, Chief Operations Officer, Shannon Heritage.
A full programme of events has been organised. Adjacent to the Golden Vale farmhouse there will be polkas and set dances. The Loop Head farmhouse will host West Clare music. The West Limerick farmhouse will have the Templeglantine Comhaltás group. There will be Sliabh Luachra music from the Cork/Kerry border at the Cashen farmhouse.
Seanchaí Eddie Lenihan will regale visitors with stories of times gone by at the school in the village street. The Toonagh Ceili Band will be at the North Clare Farmhouse. Corry’s pub on the village street will have a lone fiddler. The Folk Park village street will have céilí music and dancing, and in the Byre dwelling there will be the music of East Clare. The Bothán Scóir farmhouse will have a Sean-nós singer.
No traditional gathering would be complete without a pub session and Macs pub on the Village Street will be the venue for this. There will be a set dancing exhibition in the haggard, and children from the Tradaree Comhaltás Pléaracha, from Newmarket-on- Fergus will be on hand to share some dance steps under the instruction of Máire Ní Lideadha.
To compliment the traditional theme, the Folk Park mná tí (women of the house) will be in various houses demonstrating the traditional art of baking scones, bread and porter cakes, recipes for which have been passed down from generation to generation. The Folk Park dairy will be in full operation producing butter.
There will be something for everyone, smaller children will enjoy playing in the new children’s playground, while older Harry Potter fans will enjoy exploring 15th century Bunratty Castle in grounds of the Folk Park.
Normal admission frees will apply on the day with no additional charge for the event. Family tickets available starting at €26.75. For further information please contact Shannon Heritage Tel: 061-360788.
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Nandi O’Sullivan
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