The weather was good, the music was great, and the craic was only mighty as traditional musicians from all over Ireland as well as from Europe and America converged on Abbeyfeale last weekend for the annual Fleadh By The Feale festival of music, song, dance and wholesale merrymaking.
We may be in the grip of an economic recession at present, with storm (and lava) clouds gathering overhead but, for a few short days (and a few even longer nights) some of this was temporarily forgotten as the town switched to party mode and celebrated all that is good in our traditional music culture.
There seemed to be groups performing on every street corner, with huge crowds gathered around them, clapping and cheering and encouraging, and some even dancing the odd half-polka or slip-jig!
And you couldn’t possibly call these musicians “buskers”. These weren’t the lads you might come across in the tube stations at Shepherd’s Bush or Piccadilly Circus, warbling away off-key and hitting a myriad of bum-chords on tuneless guitars while holding out the begging bowl to weary travellers.
No! These guys (and girls) could really play. And what was most amazing was the sheer youth of some of them. In the age of i-pods and i-tunes and Lady Ga-Ga (who?) it is great to see that our young people are still embracing the old values. It would seem that the torch has been handed down to the next generation of musicians and would appear to be in safe hands.
The high point of the fleadh as usual was the traditional celebrity concert which, this year featured Frankie Gavin & the new De Dannan band supported by St. Joseph’s Secondary School group of traditional musicians.
The All Ireland Bone Playing competition on Monday evening was keenly contested with Paddy O’Donovan from Ardagh prevailing over the young David (Sport) Murphy.
There was entertainment onstage in The Square each evening and, of course, sessions in most of the bars. The workshops in the convent were booked out, as were the various lectures, storytelling, exhibitions, etc.
A great weekend to be in Abbeyfeale then, and well done to the organizing committee for all their hard work.
Mainistir na Feile is now very firmly on the traditional music map – and long may it continue!
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*Moriarty lived alone with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died and Moriarty went to the parish priest and asked: “Father, my dog is dead. Could you say a Mass for the poor creature?”
Father Paddy replied, “I’m afraid not. We can’t say Mass for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the road, and there’s no telling’ what they might do. Maybe they’ll do something for the poor creature.’
Moriarty said, “I’ll go down to them straight away, Father. Do you think €5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Father Paddy exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell me that the dog was Catholic?”

ROSARY
The Rosary will be recited every Friday evening at the Holy Well in Killenagh at 7.30pm during the month of May. This is a tradition going back many generations and, despite the many problems besetting the Church at present, people still gather to pray and reflect on this quiet country hillside, far away from the noise and bustle of everyday life.
ALZHEIMERS
Eileen O’Brien will host an Alzheimer’s Tea Day at her home in Bridge Street on this Thursday, May 6 from 12-4pm. All are welcome.
KNOCK
The first night vigil to Knock takes place on this Friday, May 7th. Contact Peg Murphy for further details on 068 31232
CEILI
Limerick Set Dancing Club will hold a ceili in the Convent Hall on Sunday, May 9th at 4pm. Music by the Allow Ceili Band.
FISHING
Abbeyfeale Anglers have released the following statement:
“The Feale has once again been dealt a devastating blow. The netting season has been changed, allowing netting up to the 20th August. The spring run of salmon is wiped out. The summer run is not great and the remaining autumn run is now open to the devastation of the nets. How the Shannon Board and the scientists could pander to the votes of the netsmen and oversee a massive attack on the remaining salmon stocks beggars belief. In 2006, 4780 salmon had entered the system by 1st May. This year the number is around 800. What chance now for the autumn run?”
RUGBY
The AGM of Abbeyfeale RFC will take place on Friday 14th May at 8pm sharp at The Grove.
Munster bowed out of this year’s Heineken Cup at the semi-final stage, losing 18-7 to Biarritz in San Sebastian. They went in at the break leading 7-3 after a Keith Earls try and conversion from Ronan O’Gara, but their second half performance didn’t match that of the opening half, and the untypical concession of several unforced penalties saw them eventually lose out on a place in the final in Paris.
Leinster were also denied a place in the final when losing 26-16 to Toulouse
SOCCER;
Abbeyfeale Utd A 1, Rathkeale 3. Abbeyfeale Utd B 2, Athea Utd 2.
GAA;
County Senior Football Championship; Fr. Casey’s 1-08, Adare 2-06
Fixture; Fr. Casey’s V Ballylanders – Friday 7th May in Killmallock at 7.30pm

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