Ballinrobe set for Mayo Fleadh Cheoil

Ciara Galvin

OVER 400 musicians and dancers will descend on Ballinrobe for the annual Mayo Fleadh Cheoil.
The competition of traditional music and dance kicked off yesterday (Monday) with dancing and continues until Sunday, May 8.
The prestigious competition returns to the town after 29 years and traders and locals alike are preparing for a resurgence of traditional music in the town during the week.
Competitions take place in St Joseph’s PS and Ballinrobe Community School taking place over Saturday and Sunday.
PRO of the Ballinrobe-based branch Tom Mannion said the general public are ‘more than welcome’ to come along to competitions to see what is going on over the weekend.
In what will be a boost to the local economy, adjudicators and some competitors will be staying in Ballinrobe over the weekend and music sessions in various bar such as The Valkenburg, John O’Haire’s, Inch’s and Carney’s are planned.
“The competition will be officially opened on Friday by TD Éamon Ó’Cúiv, followed by a lecture on traditional music by David Lennon.
“I hope the weather will be good and that people will enjoy it. Traders have been very supportive in our efforts organising this and they are looking forward to business during the events. It’s a challenging process and you cannot be successful without locals and a committee putting their shoulders to the wheel,” said Mr Mannion.  
The week boasts a list of events outside competition and includes a heritage walk this evening (Tuesday), a Culture Night on Wednesday in the Parish Centre, a presentation night and talk in Carney’s on Thursday night and the official opening of the competition on Friday night.
For further updates on the Mayo Fleadh Cheoil visit the Facebook page Mayo Fleadh Cheoil 2016.