Fleadh Cheoil - RTÉ One – series starting on Fri 27th Jan at 7.30pm

Fleadh Cheoil is a series of six half hour television programmes from the very successful Ennis Fleadh Cheoil, presented by John Creedon and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin. Surprisingly Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has only been held in Ennis twice before in 1956 and 1977 and the strength of traditional music in Co. Clare is well reflected in the series.

The programmes highlight the contribution of some of the ten thousand musicians from Ireland and abroad who contribute to the mixture of concerts, competitions, pub sessions and impromptu street entertainment that helps to make The Fleadh one of the biggest music festivals in the world.

Some of the musicians featured in the programme are Kieran Hanrahan, Dylan Foley, Edel Fox, Micheal Ó Raghallaigh, Conor Keane, Eileen Gannon, Matt Cranitch, Jackie Daly, Padraig Rynne, Antoin MacGabhann and the Co. Clare musical sisters The O’Dea’s and The Howley’s as well as concertina player Chris Droney who won the first of his ten All Ireland Medals at the Ennis Fleadh sixty years ago.

The strength of traditional Irish music around the world is emphasised by the inclusion of The Taro Band and The Toyota Band, both from Japan, in the Céilí Band competition, the first Japanese bands to feature in the 66 year old event.

Many popular traditional music groups appear in the series including Full Set, Project West, Out The Gap, Arum, The Rising and The Shandrum Céilí Band who retained the All Ireland Céilí Band title, won in Sligo last year.