This article is from page 31 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
DETAILS of the up-coming county fleadh, which will be held in Tulla were unveiled to a huge crowd of musicians and guests at the fleadh launch last week.
Toes were tapping as performers gave everyone gathered in the court- house a sneak preview of the talent that would be on display in more than 80 competitions and concerts.
A gala concert on the gig-rig on Sunday, June 22 will feature both the Tulla and the Kilfenora Céili Bands and there are concerts planned for the courthouse as well as informal sessions in the village all weekend.
It is 5O years since Tulla hosted its last county fleadh and plans have
been laid to make the event from June 18 to 22 unforgettable.
Amongst those present for the launch were Liam Cleary of Liam Cleary Motors, Ennis and Damien Siggins of Roche (Ireland) Limited who were representing the main Sponsors.
Breda McNamara, Chairperson of Tulla comhaltas welcomed everyone and introduced the various speakers including Pat Brosnan, Chairman of Clare County Board of Comhaltas, Joe O’Connor, Comhaltas Reachtaire and Tom Conheady the fleadh chair- yretenee
Pat Brosnan accepted presentation of the cups which will be awarded as prizes. These were the Leamy Cup, the Kitty Leyden Cup, the Molo-
ney Cup, the Jack Murphy Cup, the Maureen O’Connell Cup, the Pat O’ Halloran Cup and the Andy Mac- namara Shield.
Joe O’Connor told the gathering that he was “delighted to be back in Tulla again. Last year, they celebrat- ed 50 years of comhaltas in Tulla and if that was anything to go by, we can look forward to a fantastic fleadh.”
Tom Conheady thanked the spon- sors. “We are very grateful to them. Without them, we couldn’t provide the programmes we will be provid- ing in June and again in September for the trad festival.”
After speeches and presentations, the gathering was treated to per- formances from the Tulla Under 15 Céili Band, Sorchadha Costelloe the
current under 12 fiddle All Ireland Champion, Andrew MacNamara on accordion and Mark Donellan on fid- oR
Concertina player Kate McNamara who is to launch her first CD at the fleadh, played along with her brother Gearoid, sister Amy and Michael Landers.
Also on stage were Seamus Buglar on accordion, Paddy O’Donoghue on flute and Pat Mullins on fiddle accompanied by Joan Culloo on pi- ano, Vincent Griffin, Mary Corry and John Lyons accompanied by his daughter Aisling on harp.
There was also music performed at the event by the Trad for Teens group and songs from Robbie and Sean McMahon.