By Marian Harnett
PROLOGUE: “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
DEATH: We offer our sympathy to the family of Tomas Broderick, Killarney Road whose funeral took place on Thursday. May he rest in peace.
BLAGUARDING ON THE GREENWAY: It seems that thumbtacks are being spread on the track so if you find them please report to the Garda Station 068 30010.
FLEADH BY THE FEALE: The Fleadh kicks off with a night of Caint agus Ceoil in TJ O’Connells, New St. Thursday night .Then on Friday following the Street Busking starting at 7pm and entertainment on the Gig Rig in the Square and the Singing Club in Philips we’re delighted to have the Striolán Ceilí Band playing for our set ceilí which will take place in Fr Casey’s GAA Club from 9.30pm.. Saturday it’s a packed agenda with workshops in the morning, Youth Trad Session in Donal and Anne’s from 2.30pm and then a Sliabh Luacra session in Thomas T. J’s at 5pm. After a stop for the Traditional Mass with choir at 6.30pm it’s across the road to the Glorach Theatre for the celebrity concert with Donal Murphy and Sliabh Notes and downtown afterwards to one of the numerous sessions that break out spontaneously. Sunday from 3pm it’s a feast again between Eoin O’Sullivan in Leens and Storytelling in St. Ita’s Hall and the bones display on the Gig Rig at 5pm. The winners of each category in the busking on Friday evening will be asked to perform on stage on Sunday afternoon after bones display on stage in the square Donal Murphy CD launch and tribute to his Dad in Murphy’s Bar and the Lost Souls on the Gig Rig at 8pm. Our Bones workshop on Monday 2nd May at 3:30pm in leans hotel is being taught by our American senior bones competitors, James Yoshizawa, Dean Robinson, Skeff Flynn. The class is open to everyone young and old and costs €10. We will have bones available to use at the workshop. We are also looking for any young players who would love to take part in our junior bones competition that night. It doesn’t matter if you are only starting, we would love to have you and if you take part in the competition you will be left keep the bones (which are made in America by Steve Brown… Steve won the senior bones a few times). Also, any seniors taking part in the workshop and playing bones for a few years are welcome to take part in our senior competition at 8pm the same night. (Our senior competition is not open to total beginners) The All Ireland Bones competitions kick off at 8pm and are preceded by entertainment on the Gig Rig from 7pm. I have tried to give a taster of what’s happening in Abbeyfeale for the May Bank Holiday w/e but the above is not the half of it. Without a doubt it’s the place to be and don’t forget there’s a great weather forecast too.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DAY: Gardai and the IFA are combining to host an National Community Engagement Day here in Abbeyfeale at the Mart at 11am on Wednesday 27th April. An Garda Síochána, supported by the IFA and the National Rural Safety Forum, are inviting local communities to a ‘meet and greet’ opportunity at over 300 venues across Ireland. The venue for Abbeyfeale and surrounding districts is here at the Mart. All are welcome.
GLÓRACH BINGO: The signs on the approach roads to Abbeyfeale seemed to have done the trick with large crowds attending our indoor Bingo at the Glórach, every Monday night starting at 8 pm.
SLIABH NOTES AT THE GLÓRACH: It’s been three long years but with a packed itinerary it will have been worth the wait for the Fleadh by the Feale Festival that takes place in town over the weekend. Looking forward to all the events, but in particular the main festival concert, which will be Sliabh Notes, who play at the Glórach Theatre on Saturday, April 30th. Consisting of one of Abbeyfeale’s finest exponent of accordion playing, Donal Murphy, who is joined by the famed Matt Cranitch on fiddle and Tommy O’Sullivan on guitar, it promises to be a night of exceptional entertainment. Tickets will be available from Sheehy’s Hardware Store, Slice of Life or direct from the Glórach at 0871383940. Doors open at 7.30, the gig starts at 8 pm, don’t put it on the meár fhada and regret missing a great night of music.