Íoslódáil (PDF) - Comhaltas Archive

Listowel,lreland,August 26-
Decades before traditional Irish
music became a record-industry
staple and reached international
audiences, this country's musicians
earned their stripes in rigorous recital
competitions. Championships begin in
the 32 Irish counties in the spring and
are followed by contests in the four
Irish provinces. In August a weekend
of spirited competitions and
celebration takes over a small rural
town, usually changing every two
years. Known by its Irish name, Fleadh
Cheoil na hEireann, the event is a
euphoric toast to the healthy state of
Irish music and, more important, an
excuse for an astonishing party.
On paper, Fleadh Cheoil {pronounced
flah KEE-ohl}, which means music
festival, brings together 4,000
competitors in four age groups and
playing in 40 categories. Over the
weekend, this picturesque town of
3,700 in County Kerry, at Ireland's
southwest corner, was host to its 14 th
Fleadh. Scores of nervous musicians,
mostly teenagers, played before panels
of stern-faced judges in an echoing
warehouse, an unused movie theatre,
the courthouse and other places.
Categories range from old favourites,