This article is from page 2 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
ONE of the county’s most vibrant cultural celebrations will not be affected by Clare’s most pressing sporting engagement.
Fears had been expressed that the National Cultural Parade for the 2006 Fleadh Nua would clash with the meeting of Clare and Cork in the opening round of the Munster Hurling Championship in Thurles. Both have been scheduled for May 28.
However, organisers moved to allay fears that turnout for the festival’s centrepiece would not be affected by starting the parade at an earlier time. The parade will now take place at 11.30am with organisers hoping this will allow hurling fans enough time to make the trip to Thurles.
Chairman of the Fleadh Nua organising committee, Domhnall Ó Loingsigh said the committee were never worried that the parade would be overshadowed by the hurling and had spoken with GAA officials about the matter. A similar situation arose in 1992 when Clare’s footballers were taking their first tentative steps to sporting immortality. Clare tackled Cork in the opening round of that famous championship on the same day as the Fleadh Nua festivities.
Mr O’Loingsigh also revealed that the parade would travel on a more condensed route than in previous years. This year the parade will begin on Francis Street, travel up through O’Connell street to the cathedral and will continue down Station Road.
“We have got around that,” he said. “We have brought the parade forward so that it will take place after 1.30pm with assembly taking place at 1pm. It would usually begin at around 2.30pm, but it has been changed to accommodate the match.
“The parade will also take a more condensed route than before, usually it goes the whole way through town. The parade would usually go down the market but this year it goes down station road.”
The week-long celebration of traditional Irish culture will run from Sunday, May 21 to Monday 29 and will feature a multitude of concerts, performances and workshops. This year there will be a commemoration of the events of the Easter Rising in 1916 and the festival will also look back at the first Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. There will also be a multimedia celebration of the music of Robbie McMahon.
“This year we are really trying to concentrate on the performance element of the festival, which is what the Fleadh has always been about. It’s all about getting the Cheoil back on the street,” added Mr O’Loingsigh.