Friday 14th to Sunday 16th July 2006

Official Website: www.comhaltas.com

This is the Munster competition celebrating the skills of musicians from all around Munster, who will compete and travel to the All-Ireland Finals. The Fleadh will attract a large crowd on people to the Lismore area over the course of three days.

The Fleadh is the annual premier event in the Comhaltas calendar, beginning with the County Fleadhanna when competitors first seek a place to compete and to win their way to the All Ireland title. 3000 competitors qualify from the six county fleadhanna within the Province of Munster, to compete in the annual Fleadh na Mumhan, from which over 300 progress to represent their province in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Report On Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2006

Fleadh na Mumhan 2006 was a resounding success. The weekend of traditional music, song, dance drew mammoth crowds to Lismore last weekend in Mediterranean like conditions. It is estimated that some 20,000 people visited Lismore during the weekend. Annual Fleadh goers described it as the Best Fleadh in recent years and could only compare it with the 2000 Fleadh which incidentally was also held in Lismore.

Over 3,000 competitors from all over Munster competed in 19 venues in Blackwater Community School and Lismore Community Centre for a much-coveted place in the all Ireland Fleadh which takes place in Letterkenny at the end of August. But this event was not just about competitions it was about celebrating that great part of Irish culture that is traditional music & song. Street entertainment, theatrical re-enactment, Irish Dancers, Sean N6s Singers, Morris Dancers, pub sessions and an array of the best of Irish Music & song ensured that music lovers enjoyed a most memorable weekend. This comprehensive programme of events guaranteed that both young and old enjoyed what can only be described as largest music event ever to be staged in the beautiful historic town of Lismore.

A large gathering attended the official opening in Lismore Heritage centre on Friday evening. This was followed by a concert in Lismore Castle Arts. Musicians Derek Hickey (former accordion player with De Dannan), Liam Flanagan (fiddle player with North Cregg), Noelie Ryan (former guitar player Danu) and Gaeltacht Na Rinne Sean Nos singers Carthach MacCraith & Seain MacCraith held a capacity crowd spellbound. Saturday evening a crowd of approximately 6,000 were entertained by Music on the gig rig. Highlighting the programme were the North Cork group North Cregg who were unique style left audiences looking for more.

From midday Sunday crowds started to gather in the town. Moving between the Millennium Park and the Main Street which was closed to traffic for the weekend they were entertained by musicians, street theatre and the Morris Dancers. Street musicians struggled to keep instruments in tune in the searing heat and many were forced to give the planned outdoor sessions inside. The afternoon events concluded with a session on the gig rig by the Booley House musicians and singers.

From 6.30pm on Sunday evening crowds started to gather at the gig rig for the final street session and they were not disappointed. Music by Cul Cheoil, Sessiun, The Turloughmore Ceili Band, The Booley House Musicians, and Singers & Dancers had the crowd at pitch fever by the time Sean Keane & his band took to the stage. Keane’s unique melodic voice held the audience captive for 90 minutes. Supported by three excellent musicians this performance was the perfect end to a perfect weekend. As people wandered home tired but elated, the streets were full of speculation as to when Fleadh na Mumhan might return.