The 20th annual Fleadh by the Feale will kick off tomorrow, Thursday, 1st May, and will run until Bank Holiday Monday, attracting thousands of traditional music fans from far and near. One of the highlights of the Fleadh is the Celebrity Concert which will take place on Sunday at 8pm in Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, featuring Sharon Shannon and her Band, plus musicians from Coláiste Íde agus Naofa. The Fleadh will start in Abbeyfeale Library tomorrow at 7.30pm, where prizes for the art competition will be presented to the winners, and this will be followed by Oiche Cheoil agus Caint in Murphy’s Bar.
The Traditional Busking Competition takes to the street at 8pm on Friday night, and there will also be a Set Ceilí with Striolán Ceilí Band at 9.30pm in the G.A.A Clubhouse.
Master workshops will start on Saturday in the Convent National School, featuring some of Ireland’s most talented and experienced tutors, Damien Mullane on accordion, Colm Guilfoyle on flute, David Doocey/Carmel O’Dea on fiddle, Cillian Doheny on banjo, Tommy Fitzharris on concertina, and Karen Trench singing.
Saturday night open air entertainment starts at 8.30pm with the very talented Templeglantine Comhaltas Group, followed by the All-Ireland under 12 champions, the Spa-Killarney Set Dancers. The final act on Saturday night will be new traditional group Moxie.
Sunday’s line-up includes an afternoon of storytelling with Daisy Kearney and friends in St. Ita’s Hall at 3pm. Moving outdoors to the square, face painting will take place at 3pm, followed at 3.30pm by the All-Ireland Junior Bone Playing Competition and traditional entertainment from ‘Sound as a Pound’,
Bank Holiday Monday entertainment will start at 7.30pm when the pupils of Scoil Mháthair Dé, followed by Tournafulla Comhaltas Group will delight the audience with their lively performances. The Senior All-Ireland Bone Playing Competition will bring to a close the open air stage enter-tainment.
As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations a fireworks display will follow at 10pm in the square, a fitting finale to the 2014 Fleadh by the Feale.