SHOWCASE FOR FLEADH
The amazing talent on offer in Drogheda and the Boyne Valley Region was showcased at the Highlanes Gallery last week, giving those in attendance a taste of what’s to come for the Fleadh.
As the big event comes ever closer, Fleadh fever is beginning to build with with plenty of cultural attention already focussing on the Boyne Valley’s Cultural Capital Drogheda.
Last week, Highlanes Gallery hosted a Culture Ireland Fleadh Showcase to highlight exactly what the area has to offer.
The event was scheduled to coincide with the biggest winter cultural festival, Trad Fest in Dublin, and Culture Ireland, the wing of the government charged with promoting Irish art and artists across all of the arts, internationally, hosted a delegate of traditional music agents and programmers from across the world.
The delegates were in Drogheda especially in anticipation of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018, and the visited offered the opportunity and to present some of the finest professional musicians and singers of the region.
After a special tour of Brú na Boinne, Newgrange, the delegates warmed up with brunch at Relish Cafe and informally met and were greeted by the performing musicians and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Executive Committee, Lolo Robinson, Paddy Donnelly, Colette Moss and Aoife Ruane.
This was followed in the Lower Gallery with performances by Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, Gerry and Gilly Cullen, Kern, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin and Gerry O’Connor, followed by a short talk by Community Historian, Brendan
Matthews discussing the two 18th Century panoramic views of Drogheda, Drogheda’s traditional music history and a walk to the 12th Century St Laurence’s Gate, before a special tour in the Great Hall of Beaulieu House by Cara Konig.
They ended their Drogheda visit with another cultural visit to the Seamus Ennis Centre and a performance by piper Neilidh Mulligan.
Culture Ireland Director, Christine Sisk commented on the immense talent on display and on returning and sharing an ambitious and rich Fleadh programme celebrating the excellence and depth of tradition on the region.