This article is from page 3 of the 2011-05-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A WEEK after the Queen’s historic state visit to Ireland, a city bearing the Royal Charter has emerged as the biggest obstacle to the € 30m windfall that would come to Ennis if it plays host to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2012. The Clare People has learned that moves are being made within elements of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to bring the traditional music festival to Northern Ireland for the first time in its history, with Derry emerging as a possible venue to play host to the 2013 Fleadh.
Sources within Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann have told The Clare People that any decision to bring the Fleadh to Derry in 2013 when it will be UK City of Culture could scupper Ennis’ 2012 bid.
“If it goes to Derry, the chances of it coming to Clare in 2012 will recede,” one Comhaltas insider revcaled this week.
“This is because the usual thing is for a town to get the Fleadh two years in a row, but giving it to Derry will strengthen Cavan’s bid to be given the Fleadh for a third year in 2012 before they would then hand over to Derry the following year.”
The precedent for Cavan to be given the Fleadh three years in succession is there as Tullamore hosted the festival in 2007, ‘08 and ’09, but Ennis is still seen as favourite to host what would be the 62nd staging of the event.
“Ennis put in a great bid,” the Comhaltas member revealed. “And it’s between Ennis and Sligo, unless this Derry thing takes off and happens, which is now a real possibility. But Comhaltas could be split on the issue. There are elements who want to bring the Fleadh to the north and the good- will of the Queen of England’s visit to Ireland in last week could strengthen that view, with traditional music seen as another bridge between Ireland and Britain.
“However, there are elements of Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann in the north who don’t what the festival in Derry in 2013, principally because it’s the British City of Culture and principally because the Fleadh is an Irish festival,” the spokesperson added.
The Ennis bid to host the 2012 Fleadh, which would be worth an estimated € 30m to the county, was launched in April when the local committee that draws together the local branch of Clare Comhaltas, Clare County Council, Clare GAA, Ennis Town Council and Shannon Development met with Comhaltas Ceoiltóirí Éireann chiefs.
The Clare submission identified 25 venues in Ennis that would facilitate the 2012 event that would cater for up to 200,000 music lovers from across the world, with new Clare County Council headquarters on New Road designated as the hub of operations.
Ennis previously hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 1956 and 1977.