64th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Sees Record Crowds

(Newswire.net — August 18, 2015) Franklin, TN –Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the biggest traditional Irish music festival on the planet, a week-long jamboree of music, song and dance, not to mention late nights and family fun.

This year’s 64th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was celebrated by an estimated 400,000 people throughout Sligo this past week and was kicked off with the presidential launch of festivities on Sunday afternoon, the 9th of August. 

The event featured a week-long festival of fun with over 250 events and in excess of 8,000 competitors taking part in the All Ireland Fleadh competitions. Among those taking part were five members of the Atlanta Irish Music School, GA, USA. 

The competitions are at the core of the Fleadh and they see traditional musicians, dancers and singers of all ages and backgrounds competing at All Ireland level, following victories at regional competitions. The standards were high and the music more than lived up to the expectations of judges who had a very difficult job choosing winners for each category and competition. Atlanta Irish Music School held it’s own amidst the talent and will continue to keep the flag flying for traditional Irish music in the South for another year.

The week leading up to the Fleadh included Scoil Éigse, which comprised of a week of workshops and classes of Irish traditional music, song and dance and the The Atlanta Irish Music School (AIMS) members soaked up the music and tuition all week. 

Katherine Irwin Thomas, founder AIMS is passionate about promoting and preserving the purest forms of Irish traditional music and each student was urged, as a fresh generation to revel in the age-old traditions that pulsed through the Sligo region. This past summer the AIMS music students learned about the East Galway Irish Music Tradition from Éilís Crean, founder of The Irish Gift, Inc and the music from the Sligo environs served to round off their musical education for the summer.

President of Comhaltas Ceoltόiri Éireann, Ann Finnegan said of the fleadh, “This year’s competitors have taken the standard of Irish traditional music to a new level. It was delightful to see so many young people at the festival this year proving that the passion for traditional culture, song, dance and Irish language is as strong as ever.”

Chair of Fleadh Cheoil 2015, Bartley Gavin said of the event, “It’s been another incredible week of music in Sligo. We thought that last year couldn’t be beaten, but in terms of community involvement, positive interaction with visitors, and huge numbers on the streets, it’s surpassed all our expectations.”

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2016 will be hosted by the town of Ennis in Co. Clare, taking place from 14th – 21st August next year.

For all the results and further details on the Fleadh and competitions, visit www.fleadhcheoil.ie