| Festival festivities  SENATOR
Labhras Ó’ Murchú was the special guest at the recent
opening of the newly re-furbished theatre at the Coleman Music Centre
in Gurteen in Co. Sligo.
The lovely theatre has now got new-tiered seating, new lighting and air
conditioning.
Senator Ó’ Murchú is Ard Stuireoir, of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí
Éireann and praised the effort of the Coleman Centre in making
the facilities a worthy centre of excellence as the development centre
for the Comhaltas programme.
The first big event in this theatre will be the third Ceiliúradh
An Earraigh Music Festival which takes place this year on April 28, 29,
30 and May 1.
This musical event has been gaining momentum over the years and this year’s
promises to be a real sparkler in traditional music terms.
The opening concert on Friday April 28 features Ceide — a new group
of well-regarded musicians from Mayo who have come together to create
a distinctive traditional sound.
They are named after the 5,000-year-old Ceide Fields and the members are
Brian Lennon, Tom Doherty, John McHugh, Kevin Doherty, Declan Askin and
Marianne Knight.
On Saturday April 29, there are five music workshops with highly talented
musicians and a sean nós dancing workshop with Colm O Mealóid.
Workshops run from 2pm-5pm.
Then at 9pm on the Saturday a cracking concert of traditional fare gets
under way.
It features all the workshop tutors and special guest group Na Mothúchán.
This group of talented young musicians have the versatility of singing
and dancing and are Siamsa award winners as well.
They travel from Co. Meath for the occasion and combining with the workshop
tutors will make for a great concert.
Sunday April 30 also has a full programme.
At 2pm entries will be taken for the flute playing competition which gets
under way at 2.30pm. There are three grades — U12, 12-15 and 15-18.
At 6pm there is a lecture given by Gregory Daly — archivist with
the Coleman Centre. The lecture is entitled Eddie Cahill, John Vesey and
South Sligo Music in Exile.
This will be followed by the launch of a CD featuring the music of both
Cahill and Vesey — both natives of South Sligo but now sadly deceased.
The big concert on Sunday night features Sean Keane and starts at 9pm.
The festival concludes on Monday May 1 with a prestigious lecture by Senator
Labhras O’ Murchú entitled A World Stage for Irish Music
followed by the launch of the book The Mountain Top — an outstanding
collection of traditional tunes complete with notes.
For further information e-mail info@colemanirishmusic.com.
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