KERRY CCÉ should be celebrating our annual Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí this weekend in Milltown, but as with other major festivals in Kerry it had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis.
However, a virtual Fleadh will take place all next weekend and Kerry CCÉ have put together a very comprehensive programme of events.
Over 70 videos of last year’s prizewinners will be posted over the weekend from musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers who won county titles last year and also those who won Munster and All Ireland titles.
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On Friday evening they will start posting videos from 4pm to 7pm and at 8.30pm they will host an online family quiz.
On Saturday they will be uploading last year’s prizewinners from 11am to 5pm and after a brief sos will be back at 7pm with special guests including Mike Jack Cronin of Fossa CCÉ followed by Réaltaí na Todhchaí.
A group of young musicians who have come together online to perform for this unique event.
The following members of the group are Grace Heffernan and Daibhín Laide Ballydonoghue/Lisselton CCE Conor Brennan and Sarah Murphy Lixnaw CCE, Michael Healy Kilcummin and Colleen Angland Glenflesk.
These will be followed by The Neville sisters from Ballylongford who will be singing for us. In their last performance they received over 10,000 views on social media.
Neart na nÓige a talented group of Aideen Quinlan Lixnaw CCÉ, Grace Angland Glenflesk CCÉ, Kirill Healy Kilcummin CCÉ and Ruby Falvey and Hamish O’Carroll Ballydonoghue/Lisselton will perform a special piece, after coming together online to form this group.
Finishing off Saturday night’s entertainment is Sharon Shannon who was due to be part of this year’s Fleadh Cheoil Chiarraí to be held in Milltown.
Proceedings will kick off on Sunday from 11am to 5pm with more of last year’s prizewinners. They will return at 7pm with more special guests to end this year’s Kerry CCE Virtual Fleadh Cheoil.
Included in Sunday evening’s entertainment will be a senior group of All Ireland winning musicians Ali Cahill, Katie Purcell, Aoife Trench, Kevin O’Neill, Tom Trench and Conor Heaphy.
They will be followed by last year’s All Ireland winning storyteller, Sonny Egan of Lixnaw CCE. Last year’s Street Entertainers winners, the Evans Family will follow and Kerry CCE County secretary Karen Trench will also entertain.
Anne and Nickie McAuliffe from Castleisland will perform a piece written by Nickie himself.
Aoife Murphy and Paul Doyle from Lixnaw CCÉ will be joined Aibhín O’Neill, Emma Heffernan, Caoimhe Laide, and Leona Sheehy Ballydonoghue/Lisselton CCÉ Strings and musicians from the Ballydonoghue/Lisselton and Lixnaw branches will entertain.
This is followed by Uí Bhriain Ceilí band to finish of our weekend. You can join them on Facebook @fleadhcheoil.chiarrai and on Youtube @ Kerry CCÉ