Speech at official opening of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2016
Ennis, Co. Clare, 14 August 2016
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
A Chairde Gael,
Is mór an pléisiúir a bheith anseo in Inis chun oscailt an 65ú Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann a cheiliúradh. Is ócáid mór i saol chultúrtha na tíre í an bhFleadh nuair a thagaimid le chéile agus nuair a fhearaimid fáilte roimh ár gcairde a tháinig ó mórthimpeall na cruinne lenár gceol Gaelach, ár rince, ár n-amhráin agus ár dteanga a ceiliúradh.
[It is a great pleasure to be here in Ennis to celebrate the opening of the 65th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The Fleadh Cheoil is a greatly significant event in Ireland’s cultural calendar; a time when we come together and welcome so many visitors from around the world who have come to celebrate our Irish music, song, dance and language.]
Ennis, as the capital of a county that is renowned internationally for its wonderful, living music heritage, continues to be a place of great creative possibility. Clare has an unbroken chain of creative performers from the earliest of times, from the days of Mrs Crotty, through the Willie Clancy School, and the contemporary, internationally recognised genius of Martin Hayes, Tony McMahon and Noel Hill – the list is long.
It is appropriate, then, that we are gathered here in Ennis for the All-Ireland Fleadh, one of the greatest cultural festivals in the world and one which attracts many music lovers from abroad to Irish shores.
Throughout its 65 years in existence, the Fleadh has gone from strength to strength. This year I believe an estimated 400,000 music lovers will visit Ennis over the course of the next week to take part in this event of outstanding cultural significance.
It is difficult, looking around me here today, to imagine that the first Fleadh Cheoil, held in Mullingar in 1951, attracted just a few hundred visitors. From those humble beginnings a distinguished National Festival has grown and flourished, and today musicians, dancers and singers from all around Ireland and many countries overseas are very proud to take part in Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.
Níl aon amhras ann ach go gcuireann an Fleadh i gcuimhne dúinn go gcruthaíonn ár gceol ár n-amhráin agus ár rince nasc láidir dúinne mar dhaoine lenár n-oidhreacht agus ár gcultúr gcomhroinnte. Ceanglaíonn sé lenár gclann domhanda sinn, agus tugann an diaspóra ár n-oidhreacht leó ar fud na cruinne, áit a dhéantar athshamhlú air ionas go mbeidh ár gceol, ár n-amhráin agus ár rince ag fás agus ag forbairt i gcónaí.
[Indeed, there can be no doubt of the power of the Fleadh in reminding us of how our music, song and dance bind us as a people with a shared heritage and culture. It connects us profoundly to our larger global family who not only bring that heritage to many other parts of the world, but weave into it new influences and inspirations so that our Irish music, dance and song can continue to develop and flourish in imaginative and innovative ways.]
Ennis has, of course, played its own important role in the history of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. 2016 marks the third occasion on which you have hosted this significant event, following two greatly successful Fleadhs in 1956 and 1977. Indeed, the 1956 Fleadh has been immortalised in song by the late Clare man Robbie McMahon in his much loved ballad ‘The Fleadh Down in Ennis’. Nowhere has the joy and enthusiasm that lies at the heart of each Fleadh been more brilliantly encapsulated than in the words of this great song which describes how:
They came from the North and they came from the East
From the West and the South ‘twas a thriller to see;
With fiddles and bagpipes and piccolos too
And drum sticks to keep them in order.
It is an enthusiasm that is greatly obvious here today, as we mark the commencement of this 65th Fleadh. During the coming days, musicians, singers and dancers in the Irish tradition from all over the world will compete at the highest level in their chosen art forms. Over 6,000 competitors have emerged from the nationwide and worldwide qualifying Fleadhanna who will take part in 180 competitions as they seek the honour of achieving All Ireland Champion status.
The competitive element of the Fleadh is, of course, an important one, allowing talented performers from around the world to come together and realise their full potential. Indeed, many of our best known and most highly regarded traditional musicians and singers are former participants in Fleadh competitions.
Equally important, however, are the many concerts which are staged as part of the Fleadh, enabling visitors to enjoy performances from an impressive roll call of musicians, singers and dancers. Those concerts and other non-competitive events have become as important an element of the All-Ireland Fleadh as the traditional competitions and street sessions.
I understand that this year 28 concerts have been organised, and that greatly renowned performers such as Martin Hayes, Maura O’Connell, Stockton’s Wing, Frankie Gavin, and The Kilfenora Céilí Band will be taking part in the 2016 Fleadh.
Such an inspiring list of performers is a reminder of how truly fortunate we are to be able to enjoy, each year, this great celebration of all that is rich and splendid about our Irish living culture; our music, dance and song and also our history, our drama, our pageantry and our own ancient language.
Indeed, I am sure that among the participants of this year’s Fleadh we will find many competitors who have neither ancestral nor geographic links to this island but who, for cultural reasons, feel a kinship with the Irish and a love for the folk traditions we have given the world. May I welcome all of you who have travelled from overseas for this event and I hope you are enjoying our hospitality.
Dar ndoigh, is ceiliúradh íontach í an bhFleadh d'ár bpobail agus den rannpháirtíocht ghníomhach atá ina croílár ag gach fíorphobal. Tá a fhios agam gur tháinig ós cionn 1,000 duine le chéile, gan íocaíocht ar bith, chun an bhFleadh seo a eagrú. Is mian liom sibh a mholadh agus mo bhuíochas a ghabháil libh as bhur gcuid oibre, is sibh a chintíonn go mbeidh ár gcultúr slán do na glúnta atá le teacht inár ndiaidh.
[The Fleadh is also, of course, a great celebration of community and of the active participation that must lie at the heart of any true community. I know that over 1,000 volunteers have been involved in the bringing together of this 2016 Fleadh. I congratulate you all and I also thank you for your great spirit of generosity and for all you are doing to secure the future and renewal of our living culture.]
I would also like to say how delighted I was to hear of the great effort that has gone into ensuring that this year’s event will be a Green Fleadh. While climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, one that requires brave and wise decisions from world leaders, it is important that we do not lose sight of the many small ways in which we can, each in our own way and together as a society, make a significant contribution to our shared planet’s global welfare.
May I thank and congratulate the local volunteers, branches of Comhaltas, business communities and the Local Authorities who have come together to put in place measures that will enable the reduction of waste and carbon emissions, the minimising of water and energy use, and the sustainable sourcing of goods and materials throughout this year’s Fleadh. This is a wonderful initiative, reminding us that while the Fleadh is rooted in our old traditions, culture and memories, it can grow and flourish in a modern and ever changing Ireland, one that faces resolutely its global responsibilities.
Mar fhocal scoir is é mo ghuí é go mbeidh an-sult agaibh anseo ag Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2016, agus is mian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil libh arís as an méid atá déanta agaibh ar a son.
[In conclusion I wish all of you a most enjoyable time at the 2016 Fleadh, and I thank you all very sincerely for contributing to its success.]
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.