ALL IRELAND FLEADH REPORT FROM A NERVOUS FIRST-TIMER

Not my first time at the Fleadh, but certainly my first time playing in it. i don't even generally watch the competitions, preferring to enjoy the crack on the usually wild and musical campsite or hang about on the streets playing music or watching the thousands of talented musicians. This year was much the same, apart from a manic morning of practice before my competition, which was accompanied by the sounds of fierce hangovers and those who had decided not to have them. The previous night, someone had fallen into our tent followed by the crack of tent poles. Awaken at 5am to a semi-flattened tent, soon followed by a firework exploding nearby  and then the sound of song in the near distance - Come out you Black n Tans - one of those IRA rebel songs which I love. But it was kind of scary. Imagining the tent was soon going to catch on fire and that the locals were out there taunting the British Army, I said to Jack, my son, "this has gotta be the wildest Fleadh campsite I've been on." He muttered back , "Actually I don't think its wild at all - nowhere near as wild as Listowel". He's a seasoned Fleadh go-er mind.

PLAYING OUTSIDE DILLON'S PUB, LETTERKENNY                                                            A VIEW OF THE CAMPSITE AND JACK                         

Anyways,  there is a quieter campsite - I don't want to scare off anyone from going to the Fleadh. Considering the amount of people who go, it is amazing how little trouble there ever is. I think its the singing and all the music that keeps everyone out of trouble. This particular Fleadh, I've never heard so much singing. The sessions were brilliant with a near perfect balance of song and tunes. Sessions everywhere, on every corner, in every pub. After being out from about noon until 1am each day, Jack and I would get the free bus to the campsite. But each night the bus driver would drop us off just after the campsite, convincing all musicians on the bus to bring our music to the pub across the street. Having a smoke outside the pub on the first night, I told a couple of locals how the bus driver had forced our hand at coming in. "Ah that'll be Billy's brother the bus driver". "Whose Billy?" "He owns the pub". Anyways, not much hassle because that session was always brilliant and entertaining.

Some other Amairgin folk were there as well - like Willy and Liz and Scott and his dad and Eddy the Box, who used to come to the Irish Club sessions when he lived in Newport. He can get a session going in an instant with his box playing. Really upbeat and lively! Anyways, on the night before my competition, they all tried to get me to play my Fleadh tunes at the pub with everyone hushed quiet. My usual panic set in, but if I couldn't do this, how would I be in the competition? So i played one tune and people clapped. Which was ok.

3 IN THE MORNING AT THE CAMPSITE PUB

So the next day, Jack and I trudged up the long hill to the college where the competition was. While trying to find the room, I bumped into Marianne McAleer in the hallway, practicing her diddlees and her dees. She had laryngitis two days previously, so it was good to hear her voice back prior to her competitions (Lilting and English Singing). Her son Finn was also there competing in lilting and in whistling. He goes in for just about anything-talented lad. So anyways, I left them to warm up outside and tune up. I'd forgotten a tuner and ended up borrowing one from the new 15-18 banjo champion whose competition had just finished. Hoping for some talent to wear off? So I went into the room thinking i'd just sit and watch for a bit, but my name was called the minute I walked in. Scary. To a massive audience and with shaking hands I played my tunes, watched another player who was amazing, and then made my escape. Back into town for pizza and more sessions.

EDDY THE BOX, SCOTT AND JACK                                                                      JACK ACCOMPANIES THE BANJO CHAMPS

The Fleadh is truly awesome and highly recommended at least once. There is nothing really like it for anyone who likes to play or listen to traditional music. It is highly inspirational if you are learning and seriously, I always have tunes going around in my head for a week after and the only solution, I find, is to start trying to play them or learning them off of someone.  In fact there's one I heard so many times and really want to learn it and I can't remember at all how it goes. For next year - I will bring a pen and paper and ask. Also, this year I realized that it is good to watch some of the competitions, even if its just in the instrument your learning. Just to see what other people do, to notice different styles and even learn some new tunes.

By Dikka Cram                                                                                            VIDEO CLIPS OF AMAZING SESSIONS COMING SOON