The first event of the 2016 Connacht Fleadh takes place in Strokestown tonight, Friday June 24th, and kicks off 10 days of activity in the town.
Tom Hanlys Pub is the venue for a Bilingual Table Quiz at 10pm. Admission for a Team of Four is €40 and refreshments will be served.
The Dancing Competitions begin at 10am on Saturday in Strokestown Community Centre and will continue on Sunday.
Week day activities
On Monday an Exhibition of Culture & Heritage takes place in Strokestown Library.
On Tuesday a Youth Music Session, led by aspiring young musicians from CCÉ will be held in The Central Bar at 8pm.
On Wednesday the Percy French Hotel is the venue for “An Evening with Percy French and Turlough O’Carolan through Music and Song”. The event gets under way at 8pm and Admission is €5.
On Thursday there will be a 1916-2016 Centenary Lecture by Jim Ganly followed by a performance of 1916 theme songs by the Roscommon Solstice Choir. The Percy French Hotel is the venue and Admission is €5.
The Official Opening of the 2016 Connacht Fleadh takes place at 7pm in the Percy French Hotel and is followed at 8pm by the Connacht Fleadh Gala Dinner and presentation of the Ard Ollamh na Fleadh Award. The Ard-Ollamh Award was devised to honour the special contribution of an individual to the ongoing development of traditional music. This years Recipient is Paddy Ryan, Oifigeach Ceol Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann and Shannonside FM Broadcaster. Tickets for the Gala Dinner are €20 and can be booked by calling (086) 884 8444 or (086) 052 6459.
A Session Trail throughout the Pubs will also be held on Friday night.
Competitions
On Saturday 2nd July the Competitions begin at 10am in Scoil Mhuire. There is something for everyone including Music, Singing, Story Telling and Irish Speaking. Click here to download the timetable.
The Gig Rig will be the focus from 5-9pm and that will be followed at 9pm by a Ceili in the Percy French Hotel featuring the Long Note Ceili Band. This will be broadcast live as part of RTE Radio Ones “Ceili House” broadcast. In addition there will be a Session Trail throughout the Pubs.
The Competitions will resume on Sunday at 10am in Scoil Mhuire. The Gig Rig takes place between 4 and 7pm with the highlight being a performance by the Senior Ceili Band Winners at 6pm approx.
Farewell sessions will be held throughout the town and could continue until Monday.