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Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 comes to Newcastle West

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Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 will be held in Newcastle West. Pictured are Fleadh Cheoil committee, Seamus Harnett, Tadgh O Maolcatha, Liam Guiney, Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh (back) and Annette O’Donnell, Assunta Ui Chathasaigh, Eibhlin Ui Mhaoldomhnaigh, Clare Stephenson (front).

Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 comes to Newcastle West

Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan

The celebration of traditional music and dance will take place from Wednesday, July 13 to Saturday, July 16.

After a hugely successful Fleadh in 2007, Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 will return to Newcastle West from July 13-16, 2022.


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Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan will bring competitors from all six counties in the province to compete for the honour of representing Munster at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2022 in Mullingar.

Limerick CCÉ County Board with support from the branches of Comhaltas all over County Limerick will host the festival in the historic county town of Limerick.

Having originally been revealed by Munster CCÉ as the host town for the provincial Fleadh in 2020, excitement is starting to build once more in the local community after the 2020 Fleadh had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the announcement of reduced public health restrictions on January 21 by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, a new committee has been formed and is working hard to make all necessary arrangements for the first Munster Fleadh since it was hosted by Ennis in 2019.

At the launch at The Red Door Gallery in Newcastle West, Chairperson of the Fleadh, Liam Guiney shared his delight at the return to pre-pandemic cultural events – “We are extremely excited to be hosting Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan in Newcastle West. Having been forced online for the last two years, there is a great appetite to get back to competitions and the buzz that surrounds an event like the Fleadh. Along with it being a huge cultural event for Newcastle West and West Limerick, it will also be a massive boost to the local economy.”

The competitions, which form the backbone of the Fleadh, will take place from Wednesday, July 13 to Saturday, July 16. Wednesday and Thursday will see the hotly contested dancing competitions fought out, while all other competitions will take place across Friday and Saturday. Newcastle West is set to come alive with the sound of music, song and dance in this enormous cultural celebration.

Starting on Sunday, July 10 there will be a celebration of Aifreann na Fleidhe at 6.30p.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception with a mass composed by the late Garry McMahon. This will be followed later in the evening by the official opening of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 in the Longcourt House Hotel where there will be music, song, and dance into the early morning. Also on Sunday night, Seán Ó Muimhneacháin will take the opportunity to launch his book ‘The Cuckoo Sings in May.’

On Monday July 11, events will kick off at 1.00p.m. with an historical walk through the town of Newcastle West starting from the Desmond Castle. If you fancy a rib-tickling evening of stories and laughter, then Cleary’s Bar is the place for you with a storytelling evening hosted by Frances Kennedy starting from 9.00p.m.

There is an incredibly special event planned for Tuesday, July 12 in the afternoon at the Red Door Gallery at 1.00p.m., where Louise Mulcahy will share her lecture ‘The Liam O’Flynn Collection: The Legacy of the Master Piper’. Join Louise as she takes you on an exciting journey through some of the unique aspects of the Liam O’Flynn Collection including little-known original compositions, quotes from Liam O’Flynn’s handwritten notes, manuscripts, photographs, and rare field recordings. This promises to be a highlight of the Fleadh so be sure to check it out. A late addition to the programme of events is a whistling workshop hosted by multiple All-Ireland winner, Anita Bennis. Anita will teach you how to improve your tone, your breath control, and your range. Check out this unique workshop in The Silver Dollar at 8.00p.m. And for those of you looking to hear a verse or even sing two yourself, then stick around The Silver Dollar at 9.00p.m. for a singing session hosted by Con Warren.

Wednesday, July 13 will see the start of the competitions which play a huge part of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan. From 12.00p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday at the Longcourt House Hotel, patrons will be treated to the crème de la crème of dancing talent in Munster with céílí dancing, set dancing and sean nós dancing on display until late in the evening.

On Friday July 15, we will welcome the musician, singers & storytellers to the stage when the remaining competitions will take place in Desmond College and Gaelscoil Ó Doghair. Competitions will commence in both venues at 10.00a.m. If you still have some energy to burn by the end of the day, then be sure to head into the town of Newcastle West where there is sure to be an event to take your fancy. The Newcastle West Pipe Band will start proceedings at 7.00p.m. followed shortly after by a Wrenboy display showcasing the best of the strong tradition still alive and well in West Limerick to this day. The second singing session of the week will kick off in The Silver Dollar at 9.30p.m. – this time hosted by the wonderful Deirdre Scanlan of Monagea. Or if you find your feet are tapping and you can resist the urge to dance a few steps, then make your way back to the Longcourt House Hotel for a céilí with Donie Nolan. Admission is €10 and is payable on the door.

Competitions will resume on Saturday morning at 10.00a.m. with an alternative activity for those not involved in competitions. The Newcastle West Farmer’s Market will take place as normal in the square offering a fantastic selection of arts, crafts, treats and the best of West Limerick produce. If you stick around the town until 2.00p.m., you will see a variety of talent as the Street Entertainment Competition gets underway. The culmination of the competitions each year at the Fleadh is the Senior Céilí Band competition which will take place at 6.00p.m. in Desmond College. Finally, in case you were not already wrecked from the week’s events, there will be an open-air concert on the gig-rig at Desmond Castle headlined by the mighty group ‘Fuinneamh’ starting at 7.00p.m.

To keep up to date with preparations for the event, follow ‘Munster Fleadh’ or the hashtag #TheFleadhGoesWest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For more information on Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022, go HERE

For more upcoming events, go HERE

 

 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.