A Trip to Sligo... Fleadh in Sligo
For those who follow traditional music this was a great
opportunity to immerse oneself in its greatest festival i.e. The All-Ireland
Fleadh which was held in Sligo over the past week or more. The Fleadhs have
been going on now for over sixty years which in itself must be a record for a
festival of this size. While there have been a few which are remembered as not
being successful the general theme at the conclusion of most Fleadhs is that it
was ‘the best one ever’. This is, like so many comparisons, impossible to judge
of course. In any event Sligo and its organisers can be very happy with their
Fleadh. It ticked nearly all the boxes.
The atmosphere at Fleadhs for me is
akin to that before a big game or probably better, after your team has won that
big game. It is where many musicians meet on an annual basis not
necessarily by arrangement but something like the annual return of salmon to
their spawning grounds or the annual cycle of birds making their pilgrimage to
a welcoming, nurturing, reinvigorating place.
I could actually watch
through my window as the volume of traffic swelled on the Sligo Road at
Tawnytaskin. We joined that traffic on Friday afternoon and once parked in the
Cathedral car park quickly encountered the strains of the music as we moved towards
the heart of the town. There the atmosphere began and it became infectious.
Early I met Bernard Flaherty and Gerard O’Daly promoting Bernard’s book ‘A Trip
to Sligo’. Then it was down to the ‘Gig Rig’ where we met a Morris Martin who
now lives in Sligo and thus was well conditioned by that stage. He was clearly
enjoying it all while waiting the turn of his group, The Innisfree Ceili Band,
to perform on the ‘Gig Rig’. Another former St. Mary’s College student, Kevin
Brehony, was also in the band. From there tunes like ‘The Sligo Maid’ and the
‘Boys of Ballisodare’ cascaded into the afternoon air. While all the
principals were present or on the television coverage the person who
represented the Fleadh condition best for me was Joanie Madden leader of the
Irish/U.S. traditional group ‘Cherish the Ladies’.
Fleadhs thrive on ‘atmosphere’ and the enjoyment and
camaraderie that prevails. On retiring to Martin Foley’s bar my musician
colleagues joined the ‘session’ and I, not a musician, had to improvise. One
is never alone in these environments. The result is that I spent a most
enjoyable period talking to a Sligo town man and a couple from Derry,
respecting of course, the driving tunes and heartfelt songs from the totally
committed growing group. The Sligo fiddles were out in abundance and the tunes
came tumbling like the Glencar waterfall.
Fulfilled we returned to Boyle until the following
afternoon. On Saturday we quickly became immersed again just as if we hadn’t
left at all. The casual meetings continued with the unsolicited advice about a
‘great tune’ or ‘great session’ in Shoot the Crows or McHugh’s, The Glass House
or The Riverside. Then arriving at one to find that the session was just
breaking up and continuing to search for that slightly elusive ‘tune’ that can
happen when a group of top musicians meet accidentally on purpose, as it were,
and you are in a small group at the initiation. Of course great sessions do not
stay the domain of the lucky few for long anymore, as in the days of Listowel or
Buncrana, in this age of the mobile communication.
While I was otherwise
engaged on Sunday I was represented at what is now the Blue Riband event of
these Fleadhs i.e. The Ceili Bands competition. Still I was able to engage with
it all in tuning in to the marathon television coverage each night on
TG4. I am self-conscious that I am in no way doing justice to this
remarkable festival but I suggest you attend yourself to see, hear and feel
what I am trying to convey. It is hard to imagine the post-Fleadh mood swing
as Sligo gets back to normal this week. This will be soothed somewhat in
the knowledge that it will return to Sligo next year. With the experience and
confidence gained this time it can only be better which is really something to
look forward to even at this remove.
Recycling Depot times
I hear that the opening times of the County Council’s recycling depot in Boyle are being reduced significantly. The facility on
Station Road is an excellent one and it is a pity that constraints are now coming
into play. Over a decade or more ago we were aware of recycling being a huge
part of best practise in European mainland countries. It was thought that
it would be difficult to introduce that level in this country. While I
would not know the statistics in this regard the Irish have taken it on board
pretty well and fine facilities like the one in Boyle have played a key role in
developing that enlightened mind-set.
Sports Review
Boyle seniors went down to a good Padraig Pearse's in
Ballinasloe on Sunday. Boyle really missed the presence of Roch Hanmore in the
middle of the field and also Tadgh Lowe. Both were out injured. The team is
very inconsistent in its performances this summer. We all got a bit carried
away perhaps with the fine win and performance against Elphin in the first
round of the Championship in Croghan. They also had good games against Brigid’s
in the League and for forty minutes in the Championship and also against St.
Faithleach’s in the League. Boyle will now play Castlerea in a Championship
play-off to see who goes into the quarter finals. While Castlerea are a pretty
good side, Boyle, playing well, should be well able to compete with them. This
game will take place on the final week-end of the month.
This coming weekend the team have probably a more important
game when they play Strokestown in the Division One O’Rourke Cup League. The
game is in the Abbey Park at 6.30 on Saturday evening. Boyle need a win or
maybe more than one to ensure that they continue playing in Division One football
next year.
This game will be followed by the unveiling of a
commemorative seat in memory of Eoin Lavin who died tragically in a car
accident two years ago.
Those who have indicated that they wished to be associated
with this should contact any club officer or myself.
The big game next week-end is the clash of Mayo v Kerry. My
good prediction run was derailed by Cork’s poor hurling display allied to
Tipp’s good performance on Sunday last. Next Sunday’s big game is Mayo v Kerry.
While I would always wish that Mayo would win and hopefully go all the way it
is hard to call against Kerry. A bit like Cork hurlers Kerry might not be just
there yet especially without Gooch Cooper and Mayo are trying to get to a third
final.
A Lyndon Johnson once said, about a contentious decision; ‘My answer is
yes but my judgement is no’ if I say Mayo. It just depends on the day.
tconboy1@eircom.net
or 086 816 33 99
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