Fleadh2020

TG4 6-9 August 9.30pm

YouTube: https://youtu.be/bxGSsydZnjk

Lean leis an gceol, the music continues. TG4 in partnership with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, brings us Fleadh2020, a 4-night celebration of Fleadh Ceoil around the world. Fleadh2020 is a gathering (socially distanced and virtual) of Irish traditional musicians from around the world who, under normal circumstances, would be coming together to celebrate the All-Ireland Fleadh – ‘The Homecoming’ – in Mullingar in August. Over the 4 nights 6-9 August, Fleadh2020, will capture the essence of this annual event – the music, song and dance and the stories – and present a unique insight into the fleadh community, across Ireland and around the world. From Brisbane to Buncrana the young and the old, the learners and the legends come together to bring you a fleadh like never before.

Speaking about Fleadh2020, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin says, “The Fleadh resonates at the deepest roots of Irish identity and culture, which continues to evolve and grow with the world around it, and it reminds us of the beauty of tradition, the Irish language, craic agus ceol. I am proud to support this TG4 production and hope that all who see it enjoy its power, purity and presence as it rings out across the island and beyond.”

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, is the world’s largest celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance. Labhrás Ó Murchú Ardstiúrthóir of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann tells us that “The Fleadh is in tune with the pulse of the nation. In the 1950’s, when there was huge emigration and the mood was downbeat, the Fleadh helped to raise the spirits of the people at home and also had a resonance with the Irish diaspora who brought their culture from the homeland with them. The story of Comhaltas and the Fleadh are inextricably linked. The Fleadh attracted 750,000 people in 2019 and

generated €50m for the economy. Comhaltas now operates in 18 countries and provides services to 3m people each year. The partnership between Comhaltas and TG4 is another milestone on this cultural journey.” Director General of TG4 Alan Esslemont says that “TG4 has placed Irish culture at the heart of our schedule and our strategy and we are delighted to be able to broadcast ‘Fleadh 2020’, despite the challenges we all face this year with Covid-19. I am extremely grateful to all the musicians and artists who are taking part, a clear reflection of the worldwide festival which the Fleadh Cheoil truly is. The partnership between TG4 and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is a huge success and, working together, we look forward to strengthening and deepening these ties in the coming years.”

On each of the 4 nights presenters Dáithí Ó Sé, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin and Kieran Hanrahan take us on a journey through a different province starting with Munster, through Connaught, Ulster and, finally, Leinster. Among the highlights we have: • A celebration of 30 years of Irish traditional music giants, Four Men and a Dog, who welcome back Gerry ‘Banjo’ O’Connor, Mick Daly and Brian McGrath for this special occasion. • A re-union of dynamic duo Seamus Begley and Steve Cooney; • Trad super-group, Beoga; legends Matt Molloy and John Carty; from Cork, Mick Flannery with Susan O’Neill; singer-songwriter, Lisa O’Neill; Sligo-based harper- composer, Micheal Rooney; Donegal’s 13-strong female fiddle group, Sí Fiddlers, featuring Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Bríd Harper and Liz Doherty; fiddle and piano duo, Fergal Scahill and Ryan Molloy; • Céilí bands including The Blackwater, The Moylurg, Crossfields and, recorded specially for Fleadh 2020, the Toyota Céilí Band; • Musical families. We have Paddy, Kevin Glackin with Kevin’s daughter presenter and Doireann; the Kane sisters, Liz and Yvonne from Letterfrack, Co. Galway with dancer, Nathan Pilatzke; we have husband and wife duo Padraig McGovern (pipes) and Sabina McCague (harp); five siblings from Croom, Co. Limerick – the Fitzgibbon family; from Carna, Co. Galway, brother and sister Seamus O Flatharta and Caoimhe Ní Fhlatharta; Aidan and Aine O’Donnell; the Molloys from Derry, and the O’Fatharta family from Moycullen. • All the incredibly important work of those teachers who are responsible for passing on the tradition is celebrated with Kieran Hanrahan, Director of Scoil Éigse and teachers such as Damaris Woods, Enda Seery, Tom Doorley and Attracta Brady; • We have a Mullingar welcome from Fleadh Chairperson and banjo player Joe Connaire and friends; • We are joined (virtually) by some of our musician friends from around the world – from Scotland to New York to Brisbane; • For many families the fleadh is the biggest event of the year, and each night Kieran Hanrahan is joined by some of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the fleadh happen, taking a trip down memory lane and reflecting on the significance of this event – culturally and at community level. The 4 shows will be available worldwide on the TG4 Player www.tg4.ie as we take the party online across the world.

To join in the celebrations, post a video of your home Fleadh celebration to Social Media, using the hashtag #Fleadh2020 – playing a tune, telling us who you are and where you are. The video can be shot on a mobile phone, landscape (16:9) or portrait (9:16)

You can send it to us via wetransfer to eolas@lorgmedia.com with your name, where you are from, the trad/Comhaltas group you are a member of, any other social media handles/tags you would like included, and the name of the tune!

And of course, we’d love you to post it to your own social media channels using the Hashtag #Fleadh2020

Fleadh2020

TG4 6-9 Lúnasa 9.30pm YouTube https://youtu.be/bxGSsydZnjk

Lean leis an gceol. Craolfar Fleadh2020 ar TG4 i gcomhpháirtíocht le Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, ina ndéanfar ceiliúradh thar 4 oíche ar an bhFleadh Ceoil ar fud an domhain. Tiocfaidh ceoltóirí traidisiúnta na hÉireann ó gach cearn den domhan le chéile (iad deighilte óna chéile agus go fíorúil) do Fleadh2020, ceoltóirí a bheadh ag teacht le chéile ag Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – chun ‘An Filleadh Abhaile’ a cheiliúradh – sa Mhuileann gCearr i mí Lúnasa murach na cúinsí neamhghnácha. Ar feadh na 4 oíche ón 6 go dtí an 9 Lúnasa, tabharfaidh Fleadh2020 tuiscint agus léargas don lucht féachana ar an imeacht bliantúil seo – an ceol, na hamhráin, an damhsa agus na scéalta – agus tabharfar léargas ar leith don lucht féachana ar phobal na fleidhe, ar fud na hÉireann agus ar fud an domhain. Ó Brisbane go Bun Cranncha, beidh idir sean agus óg, idir foghlaimeoirí agus na ceoltóirí is mó le rá ag teacht le chéile chun fleadh a chur ós ár gcomhair nach bhfacthas riamh cheana.

Is éard a dúirt an tAire Meán, Turasóireachta, Ealaíon, Cultúir, Spóirt agus Gaeltachta, Catherine Martin agus í ag caint faoi Fleadh2020, “Tá an Fhleadh go smior i saoithiúlacht agus i gcultúr na hÉireann, agus leanann de bheith ag athrú agus ag forbairt de réir mar atá an domhan mórthimpeall ag athrú, cuireann sí an áilleacht a bhaineann le traidisiún, leis an nGaeilge, agus le craic agus ceol i gcuimhne dúinn. Táim mórtasach as tacú leis an léiriúchán seo de chuid TG4 agus tá súil agam go mbainfidh gach uile dhuine a fhéachann ar na cláir sult as an gcumhacht, as an nglaineacht agus as an láithreacht a bhaineann leis an bhfleadh agus í os comhair an tír agus níos faide i gcéin.”

Is í Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, arna eagrú ag Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, an ceiliúradh is mó a dhéantar ar domhan ar cheol, amhráin agus damhsa na hÉireann agus ar an nGaeilge. Is éard a dúirt Labhrás Ó Murchú Ardstiúrthóir Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann linn “Tá Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – a eagraíonn Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann – i lár chroí an chultúir Ghaelaigh.

Sna caogaidí nuair a bhí lag-mhisneach ar na daoine agus bhí na mílte ag imeacht as an tír do chabhraigh an Fhleadh chun spiorad an náisiúin a mhúscailt agus a chothú. Is cúis áthais dúinn sa Chomhaltas anois gur fhreastal 750,000 duine ar Fhleadh 2019 agus do sholáthair sí €50m don réigiún. Cuireann an Comhaltas seirbhísí ar fáil do 3m duine. Is mór an chabhair dúinn anois an tacaíocht a bhíonn ar fáil ó TG4.

Dúirt Ard-Stiúrthóir TG4, Alan Esslemont, “Cuireann TG4 cultúr na hÉireann i gcroílár ár sceidil agus ár straitéise agus tá an-áthas orainn go mbeidh muid in ann ‘Fleadh 2020’ a chraoladh, in ainneoin na ndúshlán ar fad a bhaineann le Covid-19 i mbliana. Tá mé thar a bheith buíoch de na ceoltóirí agus na healaíontóirí ar fad atá ag glacadh páirte ann, léiriú soiléir gur féile dhomhanda atá sa Fhleadh Cheoil. Tá an-rath ar an gcomhpháirtíocht idir TG4 agus Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann agus, i gcomhar le chéile, ba mhaith linn an ceangal seo a láidriú agus a leathnú sna blianta atá romhainn.”

Tabharfaidh na láithreoirí Dáithí Ó Sé, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin agus Kieran Hanrahan ar thuras go dtí cúige difriúil muid thar na 4 oíche. Cuirfear tús leis an scléip i gCúige Mumhan, rachfar ansin go dtí Cúige Chonnacht, as sin go Cúige Uladh agus ar deireadh go Cúige Laighean. I measc na buaicphointí beidh: • Ceiliúradh 30 bliain ó thosaigh Four Men and a Dog i saol cheol traidisiúnta na hÉireann, cuireann siad fáilte ar ais roimh Gerry ‘Banjo’ O’Connor, Mick Daly agus Brian McGrath don ócáid mhór speisialta seo. • Seamus Begley agus Steve Cooney ag teacht le chéile arís, an bheirt atá lán le díocas; • Sárghrúpa an cheoil thraidisiúnta, Beoga; na ceoltóirí iontacha Matt Molloy agus John Carty; Mick Flannery as Corcaigh i dteannta Susan O’Neill; an t-amhránaí agus scríbhneoir amhrán Lisa O’Neill; an cruitire agus cumadóir atá lonnaithe i Sligeach Micheal Rooney; an grúpa de 13 fhidléir mná, Sí Fiddlers, a bhfuil Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Bríd Harper agus Liz Doherty ina measc; ar an bhfidle agus ar an bpianó Fergal Scahill agus Ryan Molloy; • I measc na bannaí céilí beidh The Blackwater, The Moylurg, Crossfields agus an Toyota Céilí Band a rinne taifead speisialta do Fhleadh 2020; • Teaghlaigh ceoil. I measc na dteaghlach ceoil beidh Paddy agus Kevin Glackin chomh maith le hiníon Kevin, agus láithreoir na gclár, Doireann; na deirfiúracha Kane, Liz agus Yvonne as Leitir Fraic, Co. na Gaillimhe in éindí leis an damhsóir Nathan Pilatzke; beidh Padraig McGovern (ar na píopaí) agus a bhean Sabina McCague (ar an gcruit); cúigear deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha as Cromadh i gCo. Luimnigh – muintir Fitzgibbon; beidh Seamus Ó Flatharta agus a dheirfiúr Caoimhe Ní Fhlatharta as Carna i gCo. na Gaillimhe, Aidan and Áine O’Donnell; na Molloys as Doire agus muintir Uí Fhátharta as Mhaigh Cuilinn. • Déanfar an obair fhíorthábhachtach atá ar bun ag na múinteoirí ceoil, atá ag tabhairt an traidisiún don chéad ghlúin eile, a cheiliúradh le Kieran Hanrahan, Stiúrthóir Scoil Éigse agus le múinteoirí mar Damaris Woods, Enda Seery, Tom Doorley agus Attracta Brady; • Is as an Muileann gCearr a chuirfidh Cathaoirleach na Fleidhe agus an seinnteoir bainseó Joe Connaire fáilte roimh chách i dteannta a chuid cairde; • Beidh ceoltóirí ó ar fud an domhain inár dteannta (go fíorúil) – as Albain go Nua- Eabhrac go Brisbane; • Is í an Fhleadh an t-imeacht is mó sa bhliain do go leor teaghlaigh, agus beidh an dream a bhíonn ag obair go crua, gan sos gan scíth, chun go dtarlóidh an fleadh i dteannta Kieran Hanrahan gach oíche, ag caitheamh súil siar ar mar a bhí agus ag déanamh machnaimh ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an imeacht seo – ó thaobh an chultúir de agus ó thaobh an phobail de. Beidh an 4 chlár ar fáil ar fud an domhain ar Sheinnteoir TG4 ag www.tg4.ie agus an scléip á tabhairt ar fud an domhain againn.

Chun páirt a ghlacadh sa cheiliúradh, cuir físeán de do cheiliúradh Fleadh féin sa bhaile suas ar na Meáin Shóisialta, ag úsáid #Fleadh2020 – físeán díot féin agus port á sheinm agat, inis dúinn cé thú féin agus cárb as duit.

Is féidir an físeán a thaifead ar ghuthán póca, ag baint úsáid as frámú tírdhreacha (16:9) nó portráide (9:16) Is féidir leat é sheoladh chugainn ar wetransfer chuig eolas@lorgmedia.com le d’ainm, cárb as duit. an grúpa traidisiúnta/Comhaltais a bhfuil tú i do bhall de, aon lorgán/clib eile ar mhaith leat a chur san áireamh agus ainm an phoirt!

Agus gan dabht, ba mhaith linn dá ndéanfadh sibh é a chur ar bhur gcainéil meán sóisialta féin trí #Fleadh2020 a úsáid.

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 COMHALTAS

THE LIVING TRADITION

CEARNÓG BELGRAVE,

BAILE NA MANACH,

CO. ÁTHA CLIATH

Phone: 01-2800295. Fax: 01-2803759

Email: eolas@comhaltas.ie

Website: http://www.comhaltas.ie

NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!

THE FOLLOWING EXCITING NEWS

HAS JUST BEEN ISSUED BY RTÉ!

We can’t fleadh like it’s 1999 … the world has changed after all. But that won’t stop us channelling the epic energy of Irish traditional music at its finest. At home, on stage, on your favourite landmark (careful now) just share your flair using

#RTÉFleadhFíorúil or

#RTÉVirtualFleadh and we’ll do the rest.

And remember, keep it socially distant.

We might not be “going to the Fleadh” this year, so let Comhaltas and RTÉ bring the Fleadh to you. Starting on Tuesday August 4th, we are calling out to you … musicians, music lovers and

Fleadh devotees everywhere – in Ireland and abroad – to show us what you’ve got. We will aim to capture the spirit of the Fleadh as seen on street corners, in bars, on stages – the music of the people, played by the people. Even though we won’t all be gathering in Mullingar, we will

gather virtually, and RTÉ will curate and showcase the best of what we get.

Share your videos and pics on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram from next Tuesday using #RTÉFleadhFíorúil or #RTÉVirtualFleadh.

Follow @rte on Twitter and /ExploreRTE on Facebook and Insta next week to watch it all play out.

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Starting Monday 30th March
Comhaltas will launch an online site for all students of traditional Irish music at all
levels to learn repertoire. The material used for this programme is taken from and
guided by the varying levels of the SCT exam syllabus.

The levels are
1. Elementary Cycle
2. Grade 1-5
3. Grade 6-8.

This online site will help students to continue to
develop their skills while at home. There will be three tunes added per week, one for
each level. You do not need to be entered into the exam system to learn from this site,
developing a person’s repertoire is important for continued progression. You can
access this site at www.sctexams.com.

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SCT Exams 2020 POSTPONED

25^th March 2020

2019 Comhaltas Music Draw Results

9^th December 2019