THREE YOUNG harpists braved changeable weather conditions in Cavan town on Saturday to take their music to the streets on the opening day of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Friends Niamh Columb (13), Niamh Morgan (14) and Orla Finnegan (15), who met through a harp summer school in June, were looking forward to the week’s events.
Orla, who is from Cavan town, said she really enjoyed last year’s event, also held in the town, and was looking forward to making friends, making music and making progress on the harp by participating in the Scoil Éigse, which this year will see about 1,000 young musicians learn from trad masters in various disciplines.
“The atmosphere’s very good and there’s so much good music around.
“It’s good fun. There’s the Scoil Éigse lessons with professional musicians teaching us tunes and then there’s the concerts,” she said.
And well might these young trad musicians be enthused. Over the next week the Gig Rig, set up at the Egg Market in the town, is due to host, amongst others, Sharon Shannon, Donal Lunny and Ciorras, Bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien as well as Frankie Gavin and De Dannan.
Impromptu séisúin will take place on the town’s streets, in pubs and campsites over the next week. The festival will also feature a family fun day, an art fair and an exhibition celebrating 60 years of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann.
Upwards of 800 volunteers will be on hand to deal with visitors from across Ireland and around the world. The 2010 event generated €35 million for the economy and attracted more than 50,000 overseas visitors, about one-third of the overall numbers who attended.
The 2011 fleadh kicked off on Saturday night with a trad session broadcast live via the internet, an event that Micheál Ó Dómhnaill of LiveTrad.com said attracted an “unprecedented” 13,000 hits worldwide, with estimates it could have reached an audience of 40,000 viewers.
Due to its popularity, the gig will be rebroadcast on the website on Wednesday at 10pm.
Michael Sheils, manager of the Farnham Arms hotel in the town, said the fleadh represented a massive boost for business and employment.
“I have never in my wildest dreams seen Cavan town as busy as last year . . . It would remind you of walking out the gates of Croke Park after an All-Ireland and just floods of people coming towards you.”
The Costello family from Roscommon – mother Mary, father Pádraig and children Josie (13), John (11) and Louise (9) – were finding their bearings as they prepared to spend the week at the fleadh having reached the campsite, caravan in tow, on Saturday.
“It’s going to be great for them because I don’t think they realise what it’s going to be like when it really gets going,” Mary said of the children.