The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
An on-song Milltown is one hard act to follow
AS CHAIRMAN Owen O’Shea said to The Kerryman, it would be hard to put a figure on just how many people came to Milltown for last week’s Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí, or how much the festivities were worth to the mid-Kerry town.
But judging by the crowds enjoying the craic in the local bars and out on the streets, its worth must have been significant.
“I’ve been talking to bars and businesses around the place, and the feedback is that this is the biggest crowd they’ve had for any festival in the locality,” he said.
“The fine weather certainly helped, with great crowds enjoying the sessions throughout the town.”
Up to 800 competitors took part in the event, which ran from last Wednesday through to Sunday, but some of the entertainment scheduled proved just as enticing.
As Stockton’s Wing rolled back the years to their appearance at the 1998 Fleadh in Milltown, taking to the stage in the heart of the town, some 1,500 were present to savour the experience.
Other events, such as the open-air céilís, also brought huge crowds, and the good weather allowed people to sit out and take it all in.
Milltown is no stranger to hosting Fleadhs, whether it be Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí or its Munster equivalent, which it staged in 2002.
But since last holding this particular event back in 2007, the town has opened a new school building and community centre, both of which hosted some of the week’s competitions in music, song, and dance.
It all helped the image of the Fleadh itself and in bringing people from all over the county and further beyond.
“These are top-class facilities,” Owen said. “And they got a very positive reaction.
“It’s obviously far too early to say when next a Fleadh will come to Milltown, as the dust has just settled on this year’s event.
“But the feedback on the venues and facilities was good, we have experience in hosting Fleadhs, and it’s a good, central location.”
With events such as these, there’s no little preparation involved.
The committee has long worked to ensure the success of the 2018 Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí, and in the days running up to the event, people worked morning, noon, and night to have everything set up to requirements. Some, Owen said, even took time off work to be a part of it all.
“Our database showed that almost 100 people had volunteered to help out,” Owen said. “I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but this really was an enormous community effort.
“The cost of putting on the Fleadh was around €65,000, with around €15,000 going on the free, open-air entertainment we had over the course of the week.
“This was achieved with great support, mainly from Kerry County Council and Credit Union’s Chapter 23. But we also got great help from a wide range of contributors outside of the two I’ve just mentioned. I’d like to thank them and all those who helped out.”