The Fleadh in Ballina
The All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil - one of the greatest cultural festivals in the world - will have 10,000 musicians to entertain the visitors who flock to Ballina, Co. Mayo, this August.
The fleadh is held over ten days and it is expected to attract 150,000 people from all over the world and generate over £7 million for the local economy. It will reach its climax on the weekend of 22nd, 23rd and 24th August, and the members of the Moy Valley Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, who have the huge task of organising the event, have promised to make it one of the greatest festivals of Irish music, song and dance ever held.
It will be the first time for the town of Ballina to play host to a national fleadh, and it will be the first national fleadh to be held in Mayo since 1961, when Swinford was the venue.
There is now a tremendous feeling of enthusiasm in the entire Moy Valley community as plans unfold for what promises to be one of the outstanding Fleadhanna of recent times.
The many side attractions will include a famine eviction scene and an elaborate pageant based on the history of traditional Irish music and the Fleadh Ballina-born President Mary Robinson has graciously accepted an invitation to attend the Overseas Reception.
Gaeltacht
Mayo has a special richness of language, music and dance. It has the third largest Gaeltacht population in the country with Gaeltachtaí in lorrais, Tur Mhic Eadaigh and Oileán Acla.
In the Area, the Fleadh is seen as an excellent opportunity to show the world what Mayo has to offer. The event attracts television coverage from around the world. RTE are committed to making several tv programmes. Altogether, the massive media exposure which the fleadh generates provides an excellent opportunity to promote Mayo as a tourist destination.
The Fleadh has been a powerful force for good in bringing people of different politics and creeds together. Comhaltas has been a bridge between communities and has promoted co-operation and harmony throughout the four provinces of Ireland.
Ballina, where the Fleadh is being held, is the capital of the Moy Valley region of Mayo, which is noted for the warmth and hospitality of its people. Its fishing waters are amongst the finest in Europe, and the valley is a haven of natural beauty, set between two mountain ranges, the Ox and Nephin, and laced with rivers and lakes skirting the Atlantic Ocean in Killala Bay.
Scoil Éigse
In conjunction with the Fleadh, there will he Scoil Éigse 1997, the summer college of Irish traditional music, song, dance and Irish Language. The Scoil Éigse is a phenomenal development through which hundreds of Irish people as well as many visitors from foreign lands, come to a better and deeper understanding of Irish music and culture.
Workshops, lectures and sessions commence on the Sunday prior to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and continue each day up to Friday, 22nd. Instrumental, vocal, dancing and Irish language classes are held each day with informal céilithe and sessions.
This elaborate and exciting cultural festival will cost about £150,000 to stage, and the Moy Valley Comhaltas Committee has appealed to Mayo Associations and Mayo business people worldwide to pledge their financial support for the fleadh. Donations for the 1997 event can be made payable to:
Moy Valley Comhaltas, All-Ireland Fleadh Office, c/o Moy Valley Resources, Cathedral Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Further information may be obtained from any member of the organising committee:
Padraic Ó Laimhín, chairman; Oliver Rouse, vice-Chairman; Margaret lgoe, Secretary; Mattie Coleman, Treasurer,and Eamonn Walsh and Liam Molloy,PRO. Phone No. (096) 70903
Highlights of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ballina include: * The opening ceremony with pageantry and parade. * The overseas reception and concert with Ballina native President Mary Robinson. * Mayo senior football team to play a Fleadh match against an outside team yet to be chosen. * A resplendent fireworks display - a potent blend of history, tragedy, legend, water and fire.
