FLEADH CHEOIL NA HEIREANN -AUGUST 12- AUGUST 19TH
CeoilsaBhailetofocus onourCoLouthtalent Thebest Fleadh photo
WITH some of the finest traditional musicians in the world heading to Drogheda over the next few weeks, we can expect to hear some exceptional music in the bars and on the streets from players and singers from as far away as California, Japan and New Zealand.
But it is also undeniable that Louth is home to some exceptionally talented traditional musicians of our own, and a new radio series will shine a light on some our Louth musical heroes.
Ceol sa Bhaile is the name of four 25-minute radio programmes which will be broadcast on LMFM over the week of the Fleadh. Each programme takes as its subject one of Louth’s finest traditional artists, and has been recorded in each of the four chosen musician’s houses. As well as speaking about their lives and their music, each musician plays or sings in the kitchen or living room of their home, hence the programme title.
‘ The idea of the radio programmes is two-fold,’ says County Arts Officer, Brian Harten. ‘ We want to ensure that people know that we have world-class musicians on our own doorstep, and we also want to introduce these musicians to listeners in their own homes, not on the concert stage.’
The musicians chosen in this first strand of programmes are fiddlers Gerry O’Connor and Zoë Conway, and singers Gerry Cullen, and Stuart and Pat Carolan. Interviewing these stand-out musicians is Drogheda man, SJ McArdle, himself an acclaimed singer/songwriter, and more recently one third of Kern.
‘It was an absolute privilege to speak at length to all of these legends, especially as we were welcomed so warmly into their homes.
‘Each and every one of the musicians spoke very openly about their upbringing, where they got their music from, where their music has brought them, and each of them were honest about the challenges they face as traditional musicians. And we got tea and biscuits everywhere we went!’
The first programme will be broadcast on LMFM on Tuesday, August 14 from 12 noon to 12.30pm on the Mid Morning Show, and a new Ceol sa Bhaile will air each day until Friday 17.
The programmes, in an extended format, will be available afterwards as podcasts.
Ceol sa Bhaile was commissioned by CreateLouth, the Arts Service of Louth County Council, with support from the Arts Council, to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann coming to Drogheda. MAYOR Frank Godfrey is sponsoring ‘ The best Fleadh picture’ competition with a prize for the best image that sums up the ultimate Irish festival.
People can enter three digital images.
‘ There will be independent judges and the closing date is Wednesday August 22,’ the mayor stated.
‘We have so many great photographers in this region and it will be wonderful to see what they produce. Get snapping!,’ he remarked.
Entries should be emailed to frank.godfrey@louthcoco.ie