Fleadh Átha Cliath 2018
Más fíor gur leath na h-oibre é tús maith, bhí leath Fleadh Átha Cliath curtha i gcrích ar bhonn thar a
bheith sásúil ag an seoladh sa Lexicon i nDún Laoghaire. Thug na radharcanna iontacha thar bhá Átha
Cliath cúlra álainn do chainteoraí agus ceoltóirí na h-oíche. Bhí Tristan Rosenstock, iar-bhall dár
gcraobh agus bodhránaí le Téada, ina Fhear an Tí agus labhair sé faoin bunús sa cheol a bhfuair sé ag
foghlaim an feadóg stáin ó Máiréad. Chuir ár gCathaoirleach, Niamh Uí Chroidheáin, tús forimeálta
leis an ócáid agus ina ndiaidh, chualamar ceol binn ón “Dublin Performance Group” – ceoltóirí ó
chraobhacha de Chomaltas ar fud na cathrach.
Chualamar óraideanna ó Cathaoirlach an Chomhairle Chontae Tom Murphy, an t-Aire Josepha
Madigan agus Ard-Stiúthóir an Chomhaltais, Lábhrás Ó Múrchú ach ba é buac-phointe ná h-oíche ná
an bronnadh a rinneadh ar ár sár-chara Moya Brennan in aitheantas ar an tús speisialta a chuireann
sí leis an Nollag dúinn, le 10 blian anuas lena ceolchoirmeacha i séipéal Bhaile na Manach – ócáidí a
ghnóthaíonn, ní h-ámháin foinsí tábhactacha don Chraobh, ach deiseanna iontacha dár gceoltóirí
óga. Meas mór ag dul go Moya as an cinneadh a rinne sí gan óraid fada a thabhairt ach ina áit an t-
amhrán álainn “Gaoth Barra na dTonn” a chanadh dúinn. Molaimid an nós seo d’ionadaithe poiblí i
gcoitinne!
Bhí ceol arís again le seit bríomhar ó múinteoirí na craoibhe agus ceol binn ó Clíona Nic Cába agus a
grúpa den amhránaithe óga. D’aithris Seán de Grá dán a chum sé go spesialta don ócáid agus bhí an
focal scoir ag Aisling Jarvis le amhrán dátheangach dá cuid féin.
Ar an Máirt bhí seisiún amhránaíochta again sa “Mansion House” agus fiú ghlac an Árd-Mhéara féin
páirt ag canadh. Ar an gCéadaoin bhí slua mór i láthair don “pop-up Gaelttacht” i dtigh O’Rourkes sa
Charraig Dhubh agus arís bhí ceol bríomhar againn ó iar-bhaill na Chroibhe.
Agus é seo ar fad roimh an phríomh-ócáid i meánscoil Naomh Pól na gCnoc Glas. Léirigh rath na
deireadh seachtaine an méid oibre a bhí déanta ag ullmhúhcáin agus ag pleanail ar feadh roinnt míosa roimh ré.
Cur i gcrích gan cháim a bhí i gceist, ghlac gach éinne go díograiseach lena ról idir maoirseáil na
gcarrchlós, cead isteach, doirse, cléireáil, sólathar tea agus caife agus fiú chur an grian leis an
iarracht. Táimid fíor-bhródúil agus bhuíoch don fhoireann mhór a tháinig le chéile chun deireadh
seachtaine thar barr a chinntiú.
D’éirigh le roinnt mhaith dár gceoltóirí agus dhá ghrúpa cheoil dul ar aghaidh go Fleadh Laighean
agus tréaslaimid leo. Tá na h-ullmhúcháin don ócáid sin, i Muine Beag, faoi lán tseol cheana féin.
Dublin Fleadh 2018
The Dublin Fleadh 2018 got off to a great start in the beautiful location of the Lexlcon Dun Laoghaire. All musicians and speakers were framed by stunning views of the harbour and pier on a beautiful evening. The event was chaired by Tristan Rosenstock, bodhran player with Teada and himself an ex-pupil of Craobh Phiarais Uí Ghreagain who spoke of his early days in the branch and learning whistle from Mairead before taking up the bodhran. Niamh Uí Chroidheáin our chairperson then opened the evening in Irish which was followed by music from ‘The Dublin Performance Group’ of young musicians from Comhaltas Branches across Dubin.
Speeches were made by Cathaoirleach Tom Murphy, Minister Josepha Madigan and Ard-Stiúrthóir Labhrás Ó Murchú but the highlight of the evening was the presentation to Moya Brennan in well-deserved recognition of the last 10 years of fund raising and morale raising concerts she has performed each Christmas in lovely Monkstown church. Moya took the unusual step of, after a few words, delighting us with a song instead of a long speech. We feel this should become a general habit!
Other musical acts of the evening were the teachers from the branch with a lively set. The strength of singing in the branch was ably demonstrated by 6 singers led by Clíona Nic Cába. Seán Grey recited a poem especially written for the occasion and the evening closed with Aisling Jarvis performing a song in English and Irish.
On Tuesday a singing session took place in the Mansion House on Dawson Street in which the Lord Mayor took part. On Wednesday a well-attended pop-up Gaeltacht was held in O’Rourke’s pub on Main Street Blackrock. The music in O’Rourke’s was provided by some ex Craobh members and really added to the atmosphere in what was a very enjoyable evening.
And this was all before the main event which took
place in St. Paul’s Secondary School Greenhills. The weekend was a testament to the hard work that had gone on in the months before and over the Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. The event ran like clockwork, and everybody from carpark attendants to those doing admission, programme selling, delivering teas and coffees, guarding doors, clerking, administration etc. were hard working, uncomplaining and above all cheerful which made for a great atmosphere. The sun shone, and 2 of our groups got through to Leinster as well as a number of individual performers. Congratulations to them all. All in all a truly memorable Fleadh.
