Sharon Shannon looking forward to Fleadh Cheoil
READ ON BELOW THE Q&A WITH SHARON FOR A LIST OF THE WEEK'S EVENTS DURING THE FLEADH
Sharon Shannon will take to the stage at the Cathedral in Mullingar on August 1 from 7pm as part of Fleadh Cheoil 2022. The legendary musician has a worldwide recognition for her unique style of playing.
She is known for her collaborations, in traditional Irish music and through different genres including hip-hop, rap, country and classical.
We caught up with Sharon ahead of this year’s fleadh and she said: “I am really, really looking forward to the fleadh. There’s always such an exciting atmosphere at the fleadhs, especially the All-Ireland.”
What are your earliest and favourite memories of the fleadh?
“My mother used to bring me and my siblings to the All-Ireland fleadh in Listowel when we were teenagers.
“We went there a few times for the full week. It was my first time at Scoil Éigse and we played sessions in the street and the pubs all week long.
“It was an amazing buzz and I’ll never forget the excitement of it all.”
When was your last time in Mullingar?
“I played at a lovely family type festival at Mearescourt, Rathconrath just outside Mullingar, in September 2021. There was a really great atmosphere.”
Aside from performing, what are you most looking forward to at the event this year?
“I’ll only be there for one day this year so I won’t get to see any of the competitions or sessions, unfortunately, but if I had more time, I would love to see the fiddle competitions.”
If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring with you except for your instruments?
“I would bring sunscreen, loads of food, water and my dogs and cats. I’d also bring loads of my great friends.”
What music did you listen to when you were younger that led you to your career?
“I always listened to Irish music. My favourites were albums by Tommy Peoples, Matt Molloy, Dé Dannan, Stockton’s Wing, Tony Linnanne, Noel Hill, Paddy Glackin and Jolyon Jackson, Phil Cunningham and The Boys of the Lough.
“I loved to listen to local musicians too like James and Carol Cullinan, Bernie Whelan, and the Custy family.”
Tickets for Sharon’s concert are available through fleadhcheoil.ie.
THE WEEK'S EVENTS
SUNDAY 31/07
Martin Hayes €32.50 Cathedral of Christ the King, 19:00
Club Éigse Town Band Hall, 20:00
Summer Seisiún €15 Áras an Mhuilinn, 20.00
Céili - The Glenside (9-12am) €15 Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, 21:00
Late Night Fleadh Disco Arts Centre, 00:30
MONDAY 01/08
Overseas Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Youth Session Tranquillity Garden, 11.00
Walking Tours of Historic Mullingar - Ruth Illingworth Market House, 11:00
Unveiling of Willie Reynolds Memorial Plaque Walderstown 12.00
Inclusive Céilí Disco Town Band Hall, 12:00
Scoil Éigse - Tutors Recital Arts Centre, 15:00
Leinster Youth Group Town Band Hall, 17.30
Sharon Shannon €30 Cathedral of Christ the King, 19:00
Alp Luachra €15 Arts Centre, 20:00
Summer Seisiún €15 Áras an Mhuilinn, 20.00
Four Winds €25 St Pauls Church, 20:00
Club Éigse Town Band Hall, 20:00
Briste €20 Arts Centre, 22:00
Late Night Fleadh Disco Arts Centre, 00:30
TUESDAY 02/08
Departure from Fair Green Bus Tour, 09:30
Imeachtaí Gaeilge Áras an Mhuilinn, 10.00
Ionad na Gaeilge Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo 10.00
Overseas Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Youth Session Tranquillity Garden, 11.00
Walking Tour of Mullingar - Ruth Illingworth Market House 11:00
Lecture - Leo Rowsome by Martin Enright Town Band Hall, 13:00
Comhaltas Sessions Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 15:00
Tutors Recital Arts Centre, 15:00
Official Opening Seachtain na Ghaeilge Áras an Mhuilinn, 16:30
CD Launch - Tom Delany The Chambers, 17:00
John B. Keane’s Matchmaker €25 Arts Centre, 17.45
The Bridge, Daithi Gormley, Frankie Gavin,
Catherine McHugh €27.50 Cathedral of Christ the King, 19:00
Ceannródaithe Awards Dinner €35 Bloomfield House Hotel 19:30
Summer Seisiún €15 Áras an Mhuilinn, 20.00
Stocktons Wing €30 Mullingar Park Hotel, 20:00
Meitheal Orchestra - Gary Shannon €25 St Pauls Church, 20:00
Club Éigse Town Band Hall, 20:00
Breaking Trad €25 Arts Centre, 20:30
Damien Mullane €20 Arts Centre, 22:30
Late Night Fleadh Disco Arts Centre, 00:30
WEDNESDAY 03/08
Departure from Fair Green Bus Tour, 09:30
Imeachtaí Gaeilge Áras an Mhuilinn, 10.00
Overseas Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Set Dancing Workshop (2.5hrs) Town Band Hall, 10.30
Ionad na Gaeilge Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Youth Session Tranquillity Garden, 11.00
Talk: M’gar’s Culture & Heritage - Ruth Illingworth Library, 11:00
THURSDAY 04/08
Departure from Fair Green Bus Tour, 09:30
Overseas Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Imeachtaí Gaeilge Áras an Mhuilinn, 10.00
Ionad na Gaeilge Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Set Dancing Workshop (2.5hrs) Town Band Hall, 10.30
Youth Session Tranquillity Garden, 11.00
Talk - “Spark of Genius” - Paula O’Dornan Mullingar Library 11:00
Music Recitals Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 13.00
Wynne/Carlos Family €15 Town Band Hall, 13:00
Seisiún Mór na hÉigse (2:45pm to 3:45pm) Cathedral of Christ the King,
14:45
Comhaltas Sessions Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 15.00
CD Launch - Bríd Harper - Inis The Chambers, 16:00
CD Launch - Angelina Carberry and Dan Brouder - Back in Time The Chambers,
17:00
Commemorative Concert St Pauls Church, 17:30
John B. Keane’s Matchmaker €25 Arts Centre, 17.45
Sean Keane & Emmet Cahill €30 Cathedral of Christ the King 19:00
Summer Seisiún & Singers Club (9pm) Áras an Mhuilinn, 20.00
Scoil Éigse - Tutors Concert St Finians College, 20:00
Ademar O’Connor & Friends €30 St Pauls Church, 20:00
Blackwater Céilí Band €25 Arts Centre, 22:30
Traditional Singing Club Áras an Mhuilinn, 20:30
Late Night Fleadh Disco Arts Centre, 00:30
Music Recitals Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 13.00
Tutors Recital Arts Centre, 15:00
Comhaltas Sessions Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 15:00
CD Launch - Aaron O’Hagan & Luke Ward The Chambers, 16:00
CD Launch - Liam Kelly & Kevin Brehony The Chambers, 17:00
Eadaoin €15 St Pauls Church, 17:30
Clann Uí Raghallaigh & Kinsella Family €15 Town Band Hall, 17:30
John B. Keane’s Matchmaker €25 Arts Centre, 17.45
Téada & Séamus Begley & Ímar €30,
Cathedral of Christ the King, 19:00
Árd-Ollamh Awards Dinner €50 Bloomfield House Hotel, 19:30
Summer Seisiún €15 Áras an Mhuilinn, 20.00
Gatehouse €25 St Pauls Church, 20:00
Club Éigse Town Band Hall, 20:00
Garadice €25 Arts Centre, 20:30
Céilí - Glenside Céilí Band Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, 21.00
Goitse €20 Arts Centre, 22:30
Late Night Fleadh Disco Arts Centre, 00:30
FRIDAY 05/08
Dancing Competitions Loreto College, 09:00
Overseas Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Imeachtaí Gaeilge Ionad Badmantan, 10.00
Ionad na Gaeilge Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Youth Session Tranquillity Garden, 11:00
Talk: M’gar’s Culture & Heritage - Ruth Illingworth Library, 11:00
Music Recitals Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 13.00
Comhaltas Sessions Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 15.00
CD Launch - Anthony Quigney - Breath-Taking The Chambers 16:00
CD Launch - The Dublin Lasses The Chambers, 17:00
Mick Foster & Friends & Frank Gavigan Book Launch €15 Town Band Hall, 17:30
Anúna €30 Cathedral of Christ the King, 19:00
Carlos Sweeney & McCartin €25 Town Band Hall, 19:30
Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland St Pauls, 20:00
Traditional Singing Club Áras an Mhuilinn, 20:30
Céilí - Legacy (9-12am) €15 Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, 21:00
Mulcahy Family €25 Arts Centre, 21:30
Trad Disco with DJ Paddy Callaghan Arts Centre, 00:30
SATURDAY 06/08
Imeachtaí Gaeilge Ionad Badmantan, 09.30
Dancing Competitions Loreto College, 10:00
Overseas Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Ionad na Gaeilge Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Singer’s Café Urban Forge Café, 12.00
Music Recitals Harbour Place Shopping Centre, 13.00
Overseas Concert - Reception St Colmans NS, 16:30
Overseas Concert St Pauls Church, 17:30
Alfie €25 Town Band Hall, 17:30
The Full Set €25 Town Band Hall, 19:30
Colm Keane, Colin Nea, Seamus Tierney €30 St Pauls Church 20:00
Traditional Singing Club Áras an Mhuilinn, 20:30
Kilfenora Céilí Band €32.5 Cathedral of Christ the King, 20:30
Céilí - Rise the Dust (9-12am) €15 Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, 21:00
The Mannion Family & Shandrum Céilí Band €25 Arts Centre 22:30
Trad Disco with DJ Paddy Callaghan Arts Centre, 00:30
SUNDAY 07/08
Ionad na Gaeilge Exhibition The Atrium, Westmeath CoCo, 10.00
Aifrinn na Fleidhe Cathedral Of Christ The King, 11:00
Imeachtaí Gaeilge Ionad Badmantan, 12.00
Singer’s Café Urban Forge Café, 12.00
Thatch Céilí Band Arts Centre, 16:30
Marching Band Parade Town Centre, 17:00
Céili Band Competition Cathedral Of Christ The King, 19:00
Traditional Singing Club Áras an Mhuilinn, 20:30
Fíor Céilí - Brian Boru (9-12am) €15 Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, 21:00
Moxie €25 Arts Centre, 22:30
MONDAY 08/08
Farewell Céilí - Matt Cunningham (9-12am) €15 Greville Arms 21:00
Mullingar is famous for its musical heritage and vibrant culture. It’s also an ideal destination for outdoor adventure, with two long-distance greenways and scenic lakes nearby. It’s your ideal base for exploring Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
Go to www.mullingar.ie for local information or visit the Tourist Information Office at Market Square, Mullingar.
For more inspiration go to www.visitwestmeath.ie or download the Visit Westmeath app.
Explore more of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, go to www.discoverireland.ie/irelands-hidden-heartlands.