Enjoy yourselves, play music, dance and use the cúpla focal
Enjoy yourselves, play music, sing, dance and use the cúpla focal, the chairman of the organising committee urged the audience at the official opening of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar on Sunday. He assured them that no stone had been left unturned to ensure the Mullingar fleadhanna would be remembered as the best ever.
Joe Connaire thanked the committee for their endless hours of work to host the two fleadhanna and bring €100-120 million to the local economy. He thanked the sponsors who raised €1.7m to host the event, county council members and executives for their support, volunteers, Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, Fáilte Ireland and the statutory agencies.
Mr Connaire also thanked Peter Burke, TD, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, and Deputy Robert Troy for their help in getting funding. He thanked Bishop Tom Deenihan, Fr Phil Gaffney and Canon Alastair Graham along with all the boards of management of the schools and other venues at which events are being held. He thanked the local and national media for their coverage and those who attend the events from at home and abroad.
Cllr Liam McDaniel said it was a great pleasure as cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council to welcome all to the fleadh. He said it was great to have the fleadh back in Mullingar, given the enormous history associated with Comhaltas in the town. He announced that on Wednesday, Westmeath County Council will be officially launching a commemorative sculpture to celebrate that legacy.
He spoke of the economic benefits to the county when so many national and international visitors descend on Mullingar during the week and said we hope to maximise this unique opportunity for Westmeath and, hopefully those attending will get the opportunity to visit many of the natural and heritage attractions that the county has to offer.
Cllr McDaniel saluted all involved in organising the fleadh, and acknowledged the work done by the council staff, led by Pat Gallagher, chief executive.
Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú, ardstiúrthóir, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, remarked that An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who officially opened the fleadh, has been attending many fleadhanna in recent years. He thanked the Taoiseach and the government for their support of Comhaltas.
Dr Ó Murchú remembered the small group that met in Mullingar in 1951, united in their dream of enabling our culture to survive. They will be remembered for their confidence and tenacity, but so also will the names of Joe Connaire, Willie Penrose and Colette Glynn and the 1,500 volunteers who have made this fleadh possible, he said.
Tom Allen of the North Midlands Credit Union said they were proud to be the main sponsors of the fleadh again. He would love to see the relationship between credit unions and the fleadh continue to flourish in the years ahead – “we are a good marriage”, he said.
Éamonn Ó hArgáin, uachtarán Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, announced that next Thursday former president of Ireland Mary McAleese will be in Mullingar to launch the Comhaltas Prospectus, telling the story of Comhaltas for the last 72 years and outlining a blue print for Comhaltas up to 2030.
He urged people to speak Irish, rusty, fluent or otherwise, over the next nine days.
Presentations were made by Mr Varadkar to Joe Connaire, Willie Penrose – “the financial wizard behind the fleadh,” “the indefatigable” Colette Glynn, Cllr McDaniel, Bishop Deenihan, Canon Graham, Pat Gallagher, Anne Marie Corroon, Minister Burke, Deputy Troy and mayor of Mullingar Cllr John Shaw. Joe Connaire made a presentation to Mr Varadkar.