O'Riada Concert, Fleadh Nua 2010 and 'Close Encounters of the Comhaltas Kind'.

Maybe it was the weather, but I got the impression that there were not as many tourists(or people,come to think of it) at the Fleadh Nua this year. To be honest, I didn't stick around too long myself, I caught a session or two on Saturday and Sunday. I noticed a decrease in gypsies selling those massive balloons with rice in them, and bad hairbraiding jobs (the majority have probably left for Slovakia or wherever). However there are always good silver jewelry vendors in the square.

The 'gig rig' was at the square, and various grúpa ceols and céilí bands provided entertainment. O'Connell St was made a pedestrian-only zone, and THAT is when I noticed the difference between a sunny Fleadh and a rainy Fleadh. Give us good weather and we come out in droves: I bet there were tons of Ennis-folk and beyond, looking out the window thinking 'ah sher, we should make an effort and go to a session or something', but staying in to watch the 'Some place has got Talent' instead.

The Fleadh Nua is always a great occassion, but I prefer the Trad fest later in the year (when the weather is crap, and more spontaneity with the programmed events). I'm not going to get into a big Comhaltas debate, my traditional music ideology is a firmly neutral one.....Whatever about the roles and responsibilities of Comhaltas-heads, and there are/were some fabulous people involved, BUT, I am waiting for the day when Labhras O Múrchú sets up a Comhaltas party and takes over the government It seemed like such a great idea back in the 1950s, but the corruption doesn't go unnoticed, the organization needs to modernize, get with the times. I feel like a hypocrite of the first order, because I have been employed by them over the years, but that's business! It is a funny and contentious subject amongst musicians, almost all of them have had 'Close Encounters of the Comhaltas Kind' at some stage in their musical lives. I think the perceived embarassment of being alligned with Comhaltas has something to do with the competitions? I'd be interested in hearing what you all think! On a more positive note, Comhaltas have an amazing online (free) archival database which will have a huge impact on Irish traditional music scholarship and research! You can access that web-archive here. 

The Celebrity Concert paid homage to luminaries Brian Prior and Sonny Murray with a great cast of musicians from Clare and beyond. I still think it's hilarious that it's called the 'Celebrity Concert' though.... I always liked the Fleadh Nua because it means that Willie Clancy Week isn't far off, and us Ennis-folk can wander with pashtey skin onto the beaches once more. Hopefully the weather will be great this year, Clare is a beautiful place when the weather is right. Beaches, vast landscapes, mountain peaks, and a range of odd and wonderful festivals. I think it is worth noting that Ennis has a vibrant traditional music scene outside of these festivals, and so you don't need an 'excuse' to go out and enjoy music when it is available to you in several bars, every night of the week, almost every night of the year!

Peadar O'Riada, Cór Cúl Aodha, Ceoltóirí Chualann, Peadar O'Loughlin, Geraldine Cotter, Maeve Donnelly, Eamon Cotter, Hugh Healy, Blackie O'Connell, Edel Fox, Tara Breen, and many other musicians performed at a benefit gig in Glór recently. The historic occassion commemorated Seán Ó Riada, and raised funds to commission a memorial sculpture of him. I'm not sure about the full story, but I imagine the government made a promise of it, and (surprise surprise) the project fell through.

Aside from raising money for a worthy cause, the concert also raised the profile of Seán O Riada's work, reaffirming his position as a real figurehead for Irish Traditional music composition, and performance. It was a full house, and everyone had a great time. Peadar O 'Riada has a new album out with Martin Hayes and Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh called 'Triúr sa Draighean' featuring all new compositions. It's fantastic, you can buy it in Custy's or Peadar's website: http://www.peadaroriada.ie/