Fleadh Bhaile Átha Cliath : Dublin Fleadh

Craobh Chualann CULTÚRLANN NA hÉIREANN . MONKSTOWN . CO. DUBLIN PRESS RELEASE

DALKEY to host Dublin County Fleadh Cheoil, 10-15 May 2016

A series of cultural events entitled ‘Commemoration & Celebration’ will mark this year’s 1916-2016 centenary as part of the Dublin County Fleadh Cheoil which will be held in the heritage town of Dalkey, Co. Dublin, 10-15 May 2016. The events are expected to attract much local interest as well as participation from the many visitors to the area.

Concert peformances by some of Ireland’s best known musicians, singers and dancers will be staged including a special orchestral performance of REQUIEM 1916, the highly acclaimed newly composed requiem for orchestra, choir and sean-nós, composed by Odhrán Ó Casaide.

The events are being organised by the Craobh Chualann branch of Comhaltas, Monkstown, with the aid of main sponsors Foras na Gaeilge and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Co. to coincide with the Fleadh Cheoil competitions.

Alongside the commemorative events, the town of Dalkey will play host to hordes of young competitors, together with their parents, teachers, family and friends as they compete at Loreto Abbey Secondary School and St Patrick’s Anglican Church on Saturday and Sunday for a place at the Leinster Fleadh and hopefully go forward to the All-Ireland finals at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Ennis, 14-22 August 2016.

Informal open music sessions, which are an integral part of the Fleadh, will be ongoing in the local pubs during the week as well as afternoon open air performances at the Tramway on Saturday and Sunday.

The two main churches will each stage a major musical event on Thursday and Saturday as follows:

Thursday 12 MAY, 8pm - Church of the Assumption, Castle St., Dalkey REQUIEM 1916 MARBHNA by Odhrán Ó Casaide – a newly composed requiem for orchestra, choir & sean-nós to commemorate all those who died during the 1916 Rising. The performance will feature the Centenary Orchestra together with choir, soloists and the beautiful singing voice of Sibéal Ní Chasaide, the young teenager ‘who stirred the heart of a nation’ with her haunting interpretation of Pearse’s epic poem ‘Mise Éire’ during RTÉ’s Easter Monday centenary concert. ‘The blend of Irish traditional and classical styles reflects the two great musical traditions in Ireland’. Ó Casaide’s requiem was broadcast on TG4 on Good Friday. This event is sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge.

Admission to this special performance is free

OVER . . . /

Saturday 14 MAY, 8pm - St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, Harbour Road ‘RÉ’ IN CONCERT – Ré pronounced ‘ray’ means ‘moon’ or ‘era’ in the Irish language. The group features some of Ireland’s most innovative and decorated musicians.

Liam Ó Maonlaí is one of Ireland’s most distinguished musicians, an artist who is firmly grounded in Irish culture. From his early days with the Benzini Brothers to the world stage of rock ‘n roll and recording with the band, Hothouse Flowers, Liam has seamlessly embraced both popular culture and the art of traditional sean-nós throughout his singing performances all over the world accompanied by his distinctive piano playing style.

Maitiú Ó Casaide is a gifted Dublin piper from the esteemed Ó Casaide family. He received TG4’s ‘Young Musician of the Year Award’ in 2015. Cormac Begley is a member of the musical Ó Beaglaoich family from the Kerry Gaeltacht. His concertina playing has been described as ‘a masterclass in timeless musicianship’, by the Irish Times. Eithne Ní Chatháin is a highly celebrated traditional singer and fiddle player from Co. Kildare and is breaking new ground in indie-folk under the alias Inni-K. Peter O Toole is a founding member of the Hothouse Flowers and a revered songwriter and accompanist. He adds a depth of musicality and sensitivity to this eclectic group. The guest duet musicians are Luke Deaton, a fine accordeon player and singer from Dublin who recently released a debut duet album entitled Me Mother’s a Dressmaker; fiddle player Jayne Pomplas from upstate New York whose debut solo album was launched in 2015. This event is sponsored by DLRCoCo. Booking €15: locally at Dalkey News (The Red Shop); online https://dublinfleadh2016events.eventbrite.ie and from Comhaltas, Cultúrlann na hÉireann, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown.

Friday 13th MAY, 8pm - ‘Réalta’ Traditional Concert, Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre This concert will feature Craobh Chualann musicians, singers and dancers and will include soloists, groups, musical families and guests. Craobh Chualann is a branch of Comhaltas located at Cultúrlann na hÉireann, Monkstown. It has a membership of 287 and normally holds its classes and club night on Fridays. It has produced many well known musicians since it was founded in 1985.

Booking €5: locally at Dalkey News (The Red Shop); online https://dublinfleadh2016events.eventbrite.ie and from Comhaltas, Cultúrlann na hÉireann, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown.

Tuesday 10th MAY, 8pm – LAUNCH of DUBLIN FLEADH, Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre The Dublin County Fleadh will be officially launched on Tuesday, 10th May 2016 and will include a 1916 commemoration presentation. The launch will also feature an orchestral performance of a newly composed suite for 1916 by young composer Tim Doyle. It will be performed by Rithim na Réabhlóide and Cairde Chualann. Tim is a multi-talented instrumentalist who excelled at Craobh Chualann and now teaches concertina, fiddle and pipes. Dancer Sibéal Davitt, whose performance ‘raised the roof’ at the RTÉ Centenary concert at Bord Gais Energy Theatre on Easter Monday, will perform a sean-nós dance.

We are grateful to our main sponsors Foras na Gaeilge and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Further information: info@craobhchualann.net Booking details as above.

Raymond Reilly, Chairman, Dublin Fleadh Committee, Craobh Chualann - Tel. 087 220 1606