The Munster Fleadh Cheoil, the biggest provincial Fleadh in Ireland, will be formally launched tonight in Thurles. The event will feature over 4,000 competitors and several events to highlight the traditional music and dance culture in Ireland. Tonight’s formal launch is marked by the performance of the Bru Boru Cashel Summer Show at Thurles Source Arts centre – less than 25 tickets were available as of earlier today (telephone 0504 90204). The competitions are being hosted in the Ursuline Secondary School Campus between Wednesday(July 17th) and Saturday(July 19th) inclusive.
Events involving beekeeping, Men’s Shed, Ukrainian Music, the Irish Country Women’s Association, Thurles Camera Club and local pubs are a feature of the week which will have two major events with non-competing artists – Garradice featuring Eleanor Shanley, Padraig McGovern, John McCartin, and Dave Sheridan perform at the Source on Friday night at 8pm while on Saturday night Rise the Dust will perform at a monster Céilí to be staged in the Premier Hall – the winning band senior Céilí band will also perform at this event.
Pubs in the town are hosting a range of events including two at the Monks – Larry Doherty hosting Poetry on the Wing on Wednesday evening and Bob O’Brien covering the history of Tipperary songs on Thursday evening – De Burca’s on Cathedral Street will host a pop up Gaeltacht also on Thursday evening. Semple Stadium is offering tours on Friday afternoon – a free event, but tickets must be booked in advance. Street entertainment is also planned with Pipe Bands on Liberty Square on Friday and Saturday evening and a marching band competition at Lunch time on Saturday. Thurles Chamber of Commerce are running a competition for the best decorated shop window that displays the Fleadh theme while the Children’s Fleadh Poster Competition entries are on display at the Source Arts Centre.Full details can be found on the Munsterfleadh.ie website at this link here or by visiting the Thurles Tourist Office on Slievenamon Road which is offering reduced price tours for the adjacent GAA museum( telephone 0504 27534).
