The 2008 Connacht Fleadh Cheoil will take place this year in Westport. The organising committee have put together a very exciting week-long programme of events musical and cultural with something to interest everyone. This Connacht Fleadh, while continuing with the traditional role of Comhaltas in promoting music, song and dance through competition etc, is much more than this. It represents an understanding that culture is not a single item agenda, but comprises the whole spectrum of human emotion and experience. So a decision was taken to include the Westport/Google experience into the programme to make us more aware of our built environment and the duty of care we all have for our natural surroundings. This Fleadh programme will throw light upon the whole range of human experience cloaked in our rich Irish tradition. Like the elements of set-dancing, and Sean Nós dancing on the top of wine casks. It will also showcase our unique archaeological heritage. The field trip to Louisburgh to visit the Neolithic sites hopefully will cause us to ponder who our ancestors were and why they created the monument like the great wedge tomb at Creggaunbawn. Our maritime experience, the felt history of the province through folkloric and mythological expression. Added to this is the usual vibrant expression of song, dance and music at individual, group and community level. We will examine the Red Petticoat tradition, and will explore the history of the garment, and explain why it was described by Charles Mackay in the following lines: ‘Oh, the red, the flaunting petticoat, That courts the eye of day. That loves to flare and be admired. And blinks from far away. It may delight the roving sight. And charm the fancy free, But if its bearer’s half as bold. I’ll pass and let her be—With her red, her flaunting petticoat. She’s not the girl for me’. This promises to be a night of naughty surprises! Added to all of the above is the usual vibrant expression of song, dance and music at individual, group and community level. It is important to note that organising a provincial Fleadh (or indeed any Fleadh) is a collaborative process. It involves a meitheal of people and agencies, e.g. business people, volunteers, schools, county and town councils. The local authorities are 100% behind this Fleadh and they have co-operated and made facilities available to us whenever requested. We also have the goodwill as well of the local community and, of course, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann throughout Connacht. In the words of Cormac Ó Cionnaith when speaking at the press launch of the Connacht Fleadh in Westport last Tuesday; “I suppose its fair to say that’s there’s something for everybody in this extended programme. When moves are a foot to establish Westport at the cultural capital of Connacht, this Fleadh certainly will fill in a huge chunk in that jigsaw. I present this Fleadh Programme as a model for future fleadhanna. I present it to the Westport community as a model to develop culture and education tourism. But above all I present it to you people of Connacht as your racial memory and present-day expression of who you are. Beidh Fleadh den scoth againn i gCathair na Mart, bígí linn.” Deirdre Parnell, P.R.O. Connacht Council Comhaltas