This article is from page 66 of the 2008-10-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 66 JPG
ENNIS greets November with the sound of music as the Ennis Trad Festival reels into life next week.
A fixture on the live music calendar for 15 years, this year’s festival runs from November 6-10.
As always, the festival offers a healthy traditional spread of con- certs, workshops and competitions.
Noel Hill, Tony Linnane, Sean O’Sé and the Turloughmore Ceili band and the Kilfenora Céili Band are just some of the well known names due to perform in Ennis over the week.
Elsewhere classes will be given in playing instruments, singing and CP Tater bates
Flute player and Miltown Malbay native Jon Dodd will give a talk on the care and maintenance of wooden flutes, while Steve Corry, a sound engineer presents a talk on sound engineering and equipment for trad1- tional music on November 8 in the County Museum. The centrepiece of the festival is the Ceili Band com- petition Ard Ghaisce na mBuionta, which takes place on Friday, Novem- ber 7 in the West County Hotel.
The Great Céili Band Challenge
was a big hit at last year’s festival and this year has been expanded to 13 bands. John Rynne, the event or- ganiser explained that this will be a sporting opportunity for several of the best céili bands in Ireland to- day to compete for a first prize of €5,000, in a public setting designed to test their mettle.
Last year’s winners Ceoltoiri na Mainistreach will again be the band to beat out, having finished third in this year’s All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Tullamore.
Second and third place bands will receive €2,000 and €1,000 each and
the competition is set up in a way to ensure that the battle will be hotly and vigorously contested.
Most of the bands have competed, toured and performed at all the high- est level events including Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.
The winners on the night will be decided by votes taken from the au- dience and by four independent adju- dicators. The €15 entry ticket guar- antees a voting paper in addition to a vibrant night of céili band music.
The festival concludes November 10 with a performance by the lively Cape Breton based band, Beolach.