Five-time world dancing champion and Ballaghaderreen native, Ronan Kelly, was joined by a number of special guests recently for the official launch of the 2022 Roscommon County Fleadh Cheoil.
Ronan, who is now a member of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance troupe, performed at Spells Bar’s weekly Thursday night seisúin along with a number of traditional musicians as the Fleadh was welcomed back with a bang.
This year’s event is being billed as the ‘Three Fleadhs in one’ following the cancellation of the popular event in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ballaghaderreen is now gearing up for what promises to be four days and nights (possibly five!) of great music, song and dance this Easter Bank Holiday weekend!
Three Fleadhs in one this Easter weekend!
This year’s County Fleadh Cheoil is being billed as ‘three in one’ as three fleadhs – 2020, 2021, and 2022 – will be rolled into one. Organisers say that this year’s Fleadh will be a long-awaited celebration of the return of live music.
The outdoor stage at Duffy’s SuperValu will be up and running from Tuesday, April 12th, until Friday, April 15th, to ease everybody into the Easter Fleadh weekend. The Fleadh ceíli, with ceíli supergroup Salamanca, hits Creaton’s Lounge on New Street on Friday, April 15th, from 8.30 pm to 11.30 pm.
The stage on the town square will come to life with local and visiting traditional musicians, singers, and dancers on Easter Saturday from 3.30 pm. Included in Saturday’s ‘Open Air on the Square’ event is the official opening of the Fleadh at 5 pm.
Well-known local musican, John Carlos, will also host the Ballaghaderreen launch of his new solo album on Easter Saturday night.
On Easter Sunday, the ‘Open Air on the Square’ event is back, kicking off at 3.30 pm. Sunday’s programme includes the presentation of the 2022 Fleadh Gradam Award to Ballaghaderreen native (now Manchester-based) and flute player extraordinaire, Paul Daly.
Bank Holiday Monday is competition day in St. Nathy’s College, while Ballaghaderreen’s pubs and venues will be alive with seisiúins for the four days and nights of the Easter Fleadh!
