Head west for ceol, culture and craic

IF it was judged on just the major concerts and nothing else, this year’s Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh would easily be deemed to have a lot to offer. But the concerts are just part of a school of music packed with cultural events where the points of interest are as numerous as stars on a clear winter sky.

President Michael D Higgins will be the guest of honour at one of those musical nights – the Mórtas Cinne (Pride of People and Place)’ concert in Halla na Feothanaí on Friday.

The title could well be applied to the entire festival because pride of place, and pride in the music and culture of Corca Dhuibhne is what Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh is all about. It comes across in the music classes, workshops, lectures, pub sessions, the craic and comhluadar – and the troops of youngsters traipsing around Baile an Fheirtéaraigh armed with fiddles, whistles, bodhráns and banjos.

From the official opening on Wednesday evening through to Sunday, festival-goers will enjoy traditional music as interpreted by some of the greatest exponents living today in one of its natural settings, cois tine nestled in the Irish language.

Over three days classes will be held in a wide range of instruments as well as sean-nós singing and dancing. Teachers include Steve Cooney, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Dermot Mac Laughlin and Nell Ní Chróinín, who will join Muireann Nic Amhlaiobh, Bríd Donnelly, Deirdre and Aoife Granville at the head of the class.

Concerts in Halla na Feothanaí present two of the highlights of this year’s festival. On Friday evening ceolchoirm Mórtas Cinne, gives prominence to local talent with performances by Ben Lynch, Sean Ó Ceallacháin, Ruairí Ó hÓgáin and Victoria Breathnach as well as guests. The teachers’ concert on Saturday night includes a performance by internationally renowned Galician piper, Carlos Nunez, on his first visit to West Kerry.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night Micheál O Suilleabháin will perform a concert of piano arrangements of tunes associated with Sean de hÓra. This concert which will be held in Ionad na Bhlascaoid on Thursday at 8pm, was scheduled in last year’s programme but had to be cancelled at short notice.

Organisers Niamh Ní Bhaoill and Breándán Ó Beaglaíoch recommend arriving early for the concerts. The doors will be open at 7.30pm each night and tickets will be on sale at the official opening of the festival, in the booking office located in Óstán Ceann Sibéal and at the door. A festival pass is available to cover three days of classes and the three concerts, priced at €80.

This year Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh is dedicated to the memory of Domhnall Mac an tSíthigh, a great supporter of the festival who will be sorely missed. For further information consult their webpage http://www.scoilcheoil.com, e-mail eolas@scoilcheoil.com or phone 0873559938.