Message from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
“I would like to congratulate the Ballina Fleadh Committee on their completion of preparations for the Connacht Fleadh and the inaugural Community Fleadh.
I am confident that the arrangements are in place for a tremendous festival of traditional music and dance that will be enjoyed by the local commumity and enthusiasts from across Ireland and abroad.
It’s a great honour for Ballina to be chosen to host the first ever Community Fleadh in addition to running the Connacht Fleadh Competition and I wish them all the best with these events. Complementing the cultural programme, the diversity of heritage interests and other activities will ensure a lively celebration of the local area and community life.
I would like to commend all the volunteers that have given up their time to make the Connacht Fleadh happen. We can look forward a great programme of events over the 10 days.”
“Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Coiste Fleadh Bhéal an Átha as na hullmhúcháin do Fhleadh Chonnacht agus don chéad Fleadh Pobail a thabhairt chun críche. Táim lánchinnte go bhfuil na socruithe i bhfeidhm d’fhéile iontach ceoil agus rince traidisiúnta a bhainfidh an pobal áitiúil agus díograiseoirí ó ar fud na hÉireann agus thar lear sult as.
Is mór an onóir do Bhéal an Átha a bheith roghnaithe chun an chéad Fleadh Pobail riamh a óstáil chomh maith le Comórtas Fleadh Chonnacht a reáchtáil agus guím gach rath orthu leis na himeachtaí seo. Ag comhlánú an chláir chultúrtha, cinnteoidh éagsúlacht na leasanna oidhreachta agus gníomhaíochtaí eile ceiliúradh bríomhar ar an gceantar áitiúil agus ar shaol an phobail.
Ba mhaith liom freisin moladh a thabhairt do na hoibrithe deonacha ar fad a chaith a gcuid ama le Fleadh Chonnacht a chur ar siúl. Is féidir linn a bheith ag tnúth le clár iontach imeachtaí thar na 10 lá.”
Leo Varadkar T.D.,
Taoiseach
Dr Labhrás O’Murchú Director General of Comhaltas to perform Official Opening of Ballina Fleadh
Dr. Labhrás Ó Murchú, Ardstiúrthóir Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has confirmed that he will launch the Connacht Fleadh in Ballina on Fri June 30th in the Ballina Arts Centre. Dr O’Murchú will also spend five days in Ballina to oversee the inaugural cCmmunity Fleadh taking shape.
Members of the Árd Comhairle from Comhaltas HQ in Dublin who awarded the new community Fleadh to Ballina as a pilot scheme, will also travel to Ballina to liaise with the local Fleadh committee, County Board and Connacht Council of Comhaltas throughout the week and identify areas of improvement that the community Fleadh can be developed and enhanced further. The success of the inaugural community Fleadh in Ballina will decide the future of the event.
Dr Labhrás O’Murchú said “This Provincial Fleadh will be Fleadh an Phobail – a community celebration. All organisations in the community will have the opportunity to be part of this celebration of who we are as a people – a sense of place, nation and tradition. The local meitheal of volunteers have given of their time and talents to deliver this shop window of Irish cultural traditions.
As we rejoice in the popularity of Irish traditional music worldwide today – Comhaltas now operates in 21 countries – it is perhaps timely to recall the deeds and the vision of those who sowed and cultivated the seed for this bountiful harvest. These are the men and the women who composed, played and passed on our musical heritage from generation to generation. Their enthusiasm inspired and guided many young virtuosos who in turn put their own unique stamp on an ancient music which is ever fresh and vibrant.
I wish competitors the very best of luck as they pace each on the road to excellence. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. We hope to meet them at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann next August in Mullingar.”
There was an attendance of 500,000 at Fleadh Cheoil na h-Éireann last year.
1916 Leader Eamonn Ceannt’s Uilleann Pipes for Connacht Fleadh
Uilleann Piper Eamonn Walsh trying out Eamonn Ceannt’s pipes at the Curragh Camp Military Museum ahead of the iconic set of pipes making an appearance at a special Eamonn Ceannt lecture at the Jackie Clarke Collection Ballina on Wed may 28th 2023.
The Jackie Clarke Collection has secured the loan of 1916 Proclamation signatory Eamonn Ceannt’s set of uilleann pipes for the Connacht Fleadh in Ballina, which runs from June 23–July 2.
Ceannt’s grand-niece Mary Gallagher will present a lecture on June28 at the Jackie Clarke Collection focusing on his Irish cultural legacy.
Ceannt’s set of uilleann pipes will be transported from the Curragh Camp Military Museum on that date and put on display for the special event.
Curator of the Jackie Clarke Collection Annie Marie Forbes said, “This is a wonderful privilege for Ballina to get the pipes. It will most certainly do wonders for the Jackie Clarke Collection and during our own 10 years anniversary, this year it couldn’t be more fitting”.
Born in Galway on Sept 21, 1881, Eamonn Ceannt was devoted to the Irish language, music and dance and in 1900 joined the Gaelic League. He became a fluent Irish speaker, began teaching Irish and changed his name from Kent to the Irish format. He was also an excellent musician and Uilleann Piper.He won a gold medal at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 1906. He received a Papal blessing for his performance on the uilleann pipes while in Rome with members of the Catholic Young Men’s Society, participating in an athletics competition to celebrate the jubilee of Pope Pius X in 1908.
Ceannt founded the Dublin Pipers Club in 1900, which ultimately laid the seed for the formation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Na Piobairi Uilleann.
On St. Patrick’s Day, 1916, Éamonn Ceannt played his uilleann pipes for the last time in public. It was just a few weeks before the Easter Rising. He was executed on May 8.
1916 leader Eamonn Ceannt’s pipes on display at the Curragh camp Military Museum.
Irish Roots Magazine Feature
The Connacht Fleadh was featured in the June edition of the Irish Roots magazine. The article included details of Eamonn Ceannt pipes, and how they will be on display in the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina, during the Connacht Fleadh. Eamonn Ceannt’s grandniece will also give a lecture on the Wednesday evening at 7pm.
The Irish Roots magazine is dedicated entirely to helping readers worldwide to successfully connect with their Irish ancestry and heritage. Each quarterly issue is packed with practical and informative articles written by Ireland’s leading genealogists. The Irish Roots magazine is published quarterly in December, March, June and September.