Week of music, song and dance by the Boyne
WELCOME TO 2018 FLEADH CHEOIL NA HEIREANN TAKING PLACE IN DROGHEDA FROM SUNDAY, AUGUST 12- AUGUST 19TH
WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST
11an-1pm: Barbican Centre: FREE mid morning sessions with Sean O’Laoire, plenty of music, song and craic for everyone. Sponsored by Scotch Hall.
11am- noon: Barbican: Children’s mid morning session: with Anthony Kavanagh, Mayo.
1:00pm | Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €10
Sisters Elaine, Claire and Ursula Byrne come from Glenn, Co. Down. Elaine (piano), Claire (uilleann pipes /whistle) and Ursula (fiddle/piano) inherited their love of music from their mother, who has a great love for traditional music and set dancing. They perform together in concert.
6:00pm | St Peter’s Church of Ireland | Tickets: €20
The third Annual Flanagan Brothers award will this year be presented to banjo legend, broadcaster, educator and traditional music advocate Kieran Hanrahan. Kieran will be joined on the night by many of his musical friends and family from Co. Clare and across the world, including Maurice Lennon (Fiddle), Paul Roche (Flute), Tommy Hayes (Bodhrán), Mike Hanrahan (Guitar/ Vocals), all members of the original Stockton’s Wing. Expect a unique night of Clare music from one of the most influential people in Irish Traditional Music.
6:00pm | The Dominican Church | Tickets: €15 / €7.50 / €40
(Family of 4)
Experience what the future holds for traditional Irish music with The Meitheal Orchestra, made of up award-winning soloists, a stunning five-piece group, and the 130-piece orchestra finale - performing the latest suite by Co. Clare composer Padraic O’Reilly.
CEANNRÓDAITHE AWARDS & DINNER | 7.30pm | Westcourt Hotel | €50
The Árd- Ollamh award is presented for outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of traditional music. This year we honour Martin Power from Cork.
8:00pm | Fleadh Concert Dome | Tickets: €25
A gala evening with some of the most influential and enduring musicians and singers in Irish traditional music. Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny, Maighread & Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, Moya Brennan & Cormac De Barra & Band. A cracking night promised.
10.00pm | Gerrard’s Church | Tickets: €15
This beautifully intimate venue can only enhance Theresa O’Grady’s distinctive, rhythmic, and ornamental style of playing. Theresa is considered one of the finest banjo players in the country.
Originally from Luton, England and now living in Aclare, Co Sligo, her debut solo album, BANJO’ista, has been greatly anticipated and is already receiving rave reviews.
THURSDAY 16TH AUGUST
11an-1pm: Barbican Centre: FREE mid morning sessions with Sean O’Laoire, plenty of music, song and craic for everyone. Sponsored by Scotch Hall.
11am- noon: Barbican: Children’s mid morning session: with Damien McGuinness, Sligo.
1:00pm | Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €10
The Mulligan family name is synonymous with Irish Music extending back five generations, and come from a family of musicians where a love of Irish music, language and culture was instilled in them by Alpha’s father TP Mulligan from Boornacoola Co. Leitrim and his mother Catherine from Beale, Co. Kerry.
4.00pm | Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €20
A special performance of Seán Keane’s one man show, where he sings the songs collected by his grandmother and tells the stories associated with them. A song collector, she used to store them in a big old suitcase. This is a concert for anyone interested in singing the traditional way, just the human voice.
6:00pm | St Peter’s Church of Ireland | Tickets: €20 Highlighting the Oriel Region’s strong association and identity with traditional fiddle playing, and a unique opportunity to hear some of Irelands greatest fiddle players in concert. Presented by
Austin Dawe and featuring Brendan Larrissy, Gerry O’Connor, Donal McCague, Antoine MacGabhann, Jim McKillop and friends.
7pm | Plunkett Room, Barbican Centre, FREE
Singing recital with Brigid Delaney – Leinster, Len Graham – Ulster, Rachel Harvey – Munster, Vincent Crowley – Connacht, Muhammad al-Hussaini – Britain, Alberta Lathan – North America. SINGERS’ CLUB; Plunkett Room, Barbican Centre, 9.00pm, Free. Hosted by Goretti Molloy
8:00pm | Fleadh Concert Dome | Tickets: €25
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra makes a welcome return to Drogheda for a headline concert featuring soloists Zoë Conway and John McIntyre with special guest Bill Whelan,
10:00pm | Gerrard’s Church | Tickets:
€15
The intimate surrounds of Gerrard’s Church is the perfect setting to experience two exceptionally talented musicians with reputations for mastering their chosen fields. Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp. Brian McNamara, from County Leitrim, has been playing the uileann pipes since 1979, and has since become renowned nationally and internationally for his immediately identifiable musical style and extensive repertoire.
Ceili dance night. Venue: Mc Hughs Pub Drogheda. Music by: Triskell Céilí Band. Admission: €10.
TLT concert hall: Tickets: €27.50: The world renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band, regarded by afficianadoes as the quintessential Irish céilí band, will be joined by acclaimed singer Edel Vaughan from Co. Clare and dancers Laura Minogue, (Co. Clare), Deirdra Kiely (Co. Waterford), and world champions Michael and Matthew Gardiner (Co Galway) to perform an uplifting, energetic and entertaining show.
FRIDAY 17TH AUGUST
11an-1pm: Barbican Centre: FREE mid morning sessions with Sean O’Laoire, plenty of music, song and craic for everyone. Sponsored by Scotch Hall.
1:00pm | Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €10
The series of hour-long lunchtime concerts, a celebration of traditional music and its transmission within families featuring some well-known musical families from the Oriel Region, continue with the O Raghallaigh Family from Rathmoylan.
5pm: STORYTELLING WITH VINCENT PIERSE | Droichead Arts Centre, Barlow House | FREE.
5.30pm-7pm: FREE: Join a host of wonderful musicians for a lively Street Session hosted by Leinster Comhaltas on Friday 17th August from 5.30-7pm on West Street, Drogheda. This event is entirely free of charge.
6:00pm | St Peter’s Church of Ireland | Tickets: €20
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Chair of Music and Founder/Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, and recipient of the inaugural award Ollamh na hÉigse by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (2006), is noted for his development of a uniquely Irish traditional piano style. Mícheál makes a much-anticipated performance of this series of suites for solo piano, edited from the eighteenth century Irish harp music of Turlough O’Carolan.
7pm | Plunkett Room, Barbican Centre
| FREE
Singing recital: Gerry Cullen, Daithí Kearney, Ruth Campbell, Paddy Branigan, Pat Carolan & Gilly Cullen. SINGERS’ CLUB, Plunkett Room, Barbican Centre | 9.00pm | Free. Hosted by Stuart Carolan (Louth) & Noelle Bowe (Louth)
8:00pm | Fleadh Concert Dome | Tickets: €15 / €10 (€40 family)
Featuring The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and some of Ireland’s best musicians, singers and dancers, ‘Legacy’ traces the roots of the tradition where generations of Irish men and women nurtured our music and song, language and stories to leave us with the vibrant, living legacy that is the Irish traditional arts today.
With music by composer Tom Doorley. The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland is made up of over sixty of the finest young traditional and classical musicians.
10:00pm | The Crescent Theatre | Tickets: €25
Something amazing happens when Hothouse Flowers step onto the stage – something that has been shaped by over thirty years of singing and playing all over the world, yet no two shows have ever been the same! The Flowers will be a night to remember!
10:00pm | Gerrard’s Church | Tickets: €15
Don’t miss a truly unique opportunity to see multi-instrumentalist Tara Breen & concertina player Pádraig Rynne swap large venues for the intimate Gerrard’s Church. Tara Breen, a highly talented multi-instrumentalist from County Clare, started playing the flute at the tender age of six. Described as “one of the freshest sounds in Irish music” by Roots magazine, Padraig Rynne is a virtuoso musician, prolific composer and is regarded as one of the finest concertina players in Irish music today.
11.30pm | Electric Ballroom | Tickets: €10 DJ Trad with Pad will be on the decks to create blend of Traditional Music with
dance beats and tunes from around the world. This is an event not to be missed. Strictly Over 18’s Event, I.D required ( Acceptable forms of I. D. - Valid Government I. D, in date Passports, Driving Licence or Garda Age Card)
Ceili dance night: Venue: Barbican Theatre Drogheda. Music by: Abbey Céilí Band. Admission: €10 Fíor Céilíth; Venue: St. Joseph’s School Mell, Drogheda. Music by: Tara Céilí Band. Admission: €10
TLT concert hall: Tickets: €27.50: The world renowned Kilfenora Céilí Band, regarded by afficianadoes as the quintessential Irish céilí band, will be joined by acclaimed singer Edel Vaughan from Co. Clare and dancers Laura Minogue, (Co. Clare), Deirdra Kiely (Co. Waterford), and world champions Michael and Matthew Gardiner (Co Galway) to perform an uplifting, energetic and entertaining show.
SATURDAY 18TH AUGUST
11am: SINGERS’ CAFÉ Boomerang Cáfe |11am – 6pm| Free. Armagh Singers 11am2pm, Drogheda Singing Circle 2pm – 6 pm. SINGERS’ CLUB. Plunkett Room, Barbican Centre | 9.00pm | Free. Hosted by Tommy Dunn (Derry) 1:00pm | Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €10 The Mac Gabhann family from Ashbourne, Co Meath have been prominent in traditional music circles for many years. Dad Antoin, comes from Mullahoran, Co Cavan and is one of Irelands best known performers and teachers on the fiddle. The family perform at this lunchtime concert..
4.00pm | Droichead Arts Centre | Tickets: €15
The Rowsome Quartet was formed in the 1920’s by brothers Leo and Tom Rowsome. It flourished for decades, but wound up after Leo passed in 1970. Kevin Rowsome, grandson of Leo, revived the quartet and has performed at numerous musical occasions in recent years.
The members of the quartet for this special evening are master-pipers Kevin Rowsome, Mick O’Brien, Nollaig Mac Cárthaigh & Mark Redmond.
5:00pm | The Augustinian Church | Tickets: €15 / €7.50 Child / €40 Family of 4
A special performance of the Requiem for 1916 in Irish, composed by Odhrán Ó Casaide.
This powerful piece is inspired by the original pioneering work of Seán O Riada. The Requiem sets out to explore the beauty of sean nós voice, together with chamber choir and orchestra, classical solo voices, as well as traditional and early musical instruments.
The blend of Irish and classical styles reflects the two great musical traditions in Ireland at the time of the Easter Rising in 1916.
8:00pm | St. Peter’s Church of Ireland | Tickets: FREE, pre-booking essential In recent decades, more and more people across the globe have come to appreciate, enjoy and participate in Irish Traditional Irish Music, Songs and Dance. With 420 branches in 15 countries on 4 continents, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has been to the fore in all of this. This is a special overseas concert.