Fleadh fever has again hit the border town of Swanlinbar as the County Cavan Fleadh heads west to Swanlinbar from Friday 3 June to Monday 6 June.
Last year's Fleadh exceeded all expectations with a huge influx of competitors and all a large number of visitors from all over the country and overseas . Visitors to the fleadh in Swanlinbar to experience a Fleadh full to the brim with competitions, recitals, dancing, singing, impromptu street seisiuns and pub seisiuns. The Fleadh will be officially launched in Friday 3 June by local GAA cavan captain Geroraid McKiernan, with the pupils of Scoil Mhuire and local branch musicians performing on the gig rig in chapel square. The highlight of the evening will be a performance by the talented Cavan pipers and Cian Sweeney current all Ireland flute champion.
The return of Cissy's kitchen at 10 pm on Friday evening is eagerly awaited and she will be joined over the weekend by local storyteller Seamus McCanny in her Mill Street home . For ceili lovers there will be a sets ceili in St Mary's hall with Breege Flynn 9 pm to 12 pm dancing to the Long Note Ceili Band. Nightly sing songs and music seisiuns in the local pubs featuring the very best of Irish trad music. There will be special emphasis throughout the weekend on the 1916 centenary celebrations with a 1916 heritage Fleadh parade on Sunday at 5pm.
Cavan Man Martin Donohoe will be MC on the Gig Rig over the weekend. Popular folk group will perform on the gig rig on Sunday from 4.30 pm and traditional customs and heritage with music, song and dance in chapel square and everyone is encouraged to wear traditional clothes from the 1916 era. At 7.30 on Sunday in St Mary's Hall a storytelling and traditional music event -
The Pram that helped the Rising tells a deeply moving story of how an Irish Community in the USA helped the rising. Tickets priced €5 are on sale locally and also after mass in St Mary's Church on Sunday 28 May. This is a weekend not to be missed as the cream of Irish music will be in Swanlinbar on the Fleadh weekend.
Road Closure Please note that the road to Swanlinbar/N87 will be closed tomorrow morning Saturday at Brackley lake from 11:00am to 1:00pm due to the annual James McManus Memorial Triathlon. Anyone going to the Fleadh during that period should go by N3, Derrylin and Kinawley.
