LAST Sunday week Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann held a special concert at the Pavilions Shopping Centre, to welcome the Leinster Fleadh (Fleadh Laighean) that will be coming to Swords between July 5 and 12, 2020.
A total of 28 musicians performed on tghe day with both adults and children taking part in the event which was very well received by the public.
The group even expanded its repertoire to include some Christmas tunes, much to the delight of the younger ones in the audience.
Many Dublin Comhaltas branches were represented including Seán Treacy, Beaumont, Portmarnock, Malahide, Kinsealy, Balbriggan, Lucan and the newly formed craobh on the Donabate/Portrane peninsula.
Mixed in with the high standard of music was a spectacular Irish dancing performance by some Comhaltas members that raised “oohs and aahs” from the audience as they jumped and twirled to the tunes provided by the musicians.
Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, who attended the event, expressed his support for the Fleadh.
“The coming of Fleadh Laighean to Swords is a fantastic event that will help further raise the profile of Irish music and also the profile of Swords and the wider Fingal region,” said the Mayor.
“I am really encouraged by the enthusiasm and proficiency of the young musicians performing.
“I would hope that the coming of Leinster Fleadh to Swords will pave the path for the possibility of the national Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann coming to Swords in a few years.”
The Leinster Fleadh is a weeklong event that involves traditional Irish music.
On the competitions side there will be numerous venues in use in the Swords area.
These will include Swords Castle, Fingallians GAA Club, Fingal Community College, Prosper Fingal and St Colmcille’s National School.
The week will see competitors representing the 12 counties of Leinster and vying to win places in the All-Ireland Final that will be held in Mullingar, County Westmeath in August 2020.
On the social side of the week there will be music sessions of every type throughout the town and feature concerts at Swords Castle.
Street closures will add to the atmosphere during the ultimate weekend July 10-12.
The Leinster Fleadh is organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
It is a national non-profit cultural movement that organises and promotes traditional Irish music at home and abroad.