Ashbourne set to host annual Meath Fleadh
The annual Meath Fleadh Cheoil will be held in Ashbourne this year on the weekend of 20th-22nd May. The fleadh involves all the best of Irish traditional music, singing and dancing and is likely to attract a big crowd to the town. This year marks the diamond jubilee of the founding of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in 1951 and a special souvenir programme will be available over the weekend. On Friday 20th, the weekend will start with a session and céili in the clubhouse of Donaghmore-Ashbourne GAA Club, starting at 8.30pm. A great night of entertainment is in store for all. Saturday 21st will feature a singing night in Kelly's, commencing at 9.30pm. The night will feature the best of traditional songs in both Irish and English from some of Ireland's best traditional singers. In addition, a traditional music session is planned for Foxe's pub in Ashbourne, again starting at 9.30pm. Sunday will see music and singing competitions in all ages and in all instruments take place at Ashbourne Community School and Gaelscoil Na Cille. The competitions will feature solos, duets, trios, bands and groups as well as marching bands and will commence at 11am. These competitions are held annually to determine who goes forward to represent Meath in the Leinster finals, to be held in Portlaoise in July this year and hopefully to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to be held in Cavan town in August. First and second in each competition will carry Meath's hopes. County Meath is particularly steeped in traditional music with many All-Ireland winners coming from the county. The standard is always very high and adjudicators usually have a difficult task in determining the medal winners. The county fleadh is the highlight of the year for many of Meath's young musicians. The hard work by pupils, teachers and parents alike over the past eight to 10 months is all focused on this weekend as a stepping stone to both provincial and all-Ireland success. The Ashbourne branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was formed 16 years ago and is recognised as one of the strongest in the country. Many well-known musicians, such as Antóin Mac Gabhann, Catherine McEvoy and Hughie Grogan, all live locally and are active in teaching and promoting music among the young people of the area. They all play active roles in the local Comhaltas branch and many of their pupils from the earlier years of the branch are carrying on the good work with music classes of their own.