Athlone's Féile to return in 2024 after successful first event

Organisers of Athlone's Féile na Sionainne celebration said it will be back next summer after the inaugural event over the August bank holiday weekend proved a success.

The Church Street area was alive with the sound of traditional music from Sunday to Tuesday, August 6 to 8, as an array of performers displayed their talent under the canopy.

Workshops and some other live music events were held elsewhere in the town during the event, which was organised to coincide with the Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar.

The positive atmosphere around the Féile was remarked upon by its PRO, John Madden, who said it "completely exceeded" expectations.

"Over the three-day event the audience grew and, even despite the occasional shower, spirits were never dampened," he remarked.

Féile na Sionainne chairperson Jim Mulkerrins said the "huge amount of talent and interest" in traditional music and dance locally was evident during the event.

"This is the holiday time of year, but every musician we asked, who was going to be around town, said yes (to playing at the Féile).

"We weren't surprised by the turnout of musicians, but we were surprised often by the quality of the players and the show they put on," he said.

The three-day programme began with an open trad session under the canopy at noon on the Sunday.

"A lot of the people who were there on the first day came back on the second day and the third day," said Jim.

"We thought that the Tuesday would be significantly quieter, because it's a working day, but if anything it was busier. There were quite a few tourists around, and they really fell on their feet because they didn't know that this would be happening. They were delighted by the music and the dancing.

"The setting we had, under the canopy, was superb as well. We could play the music reasonably loud without interfering with the local businesses. I think all of the businesses were quite happy with the way it went."

Performers under the canopy during the event included Eva Coyle, the Henshaws, the Tobar an Cheoil junior trad group from Tubberclair, Clonown Céili Group, Roscommon Comhaltas, and a Ukrainian cultural group, among many others.

On the Tuesday morning, Athlone's hosting of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 1953 was commemorated at an event which included a visit from Comhaltas representatives, Árdstúirtheóir, Labhrás Ó Murchú and Úactaráin, Éamon Ó hÁrgáin.

The gathering saw the unveiling of a paving stone, marking the 70-year Fleadh anniversary, which is due to be installed in the town as part of the streetscape revamp at Mardyke Street and Sean Costello Street.

Mullingar Fleadh committee chairperson Joe Connaire was among those who addressed the commemorative event, and it also included the reading of a poem written for the occasion by Athlone's Jackie Gorman.

Jim Mulkerrins said it's unlikely that next year's Féile will happen at the same time as the 2024 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.

"We got a bit of 'knock-on business' from the Fleadh in Mullingar this year, which won't happen next year because it will be in Wexford," he said.

"I think we will probably make a decision not to compete with the Fleadh next year. We might find a weekend before, or a weekend after, but that remains to be discussed."

He also said there would be a need for more volunteers to help with next year's Féile. Planning for the event this year only began in April, and next year there will be a longer lead-in time before it gets underway.

"The biggest learning for me was that we need to be canvassing for significantly more volunteers, and volunteers with specific skill-sets," he commented.

"Mullingar Fleadh, for example, over the full week, had 1,500 volunteers. We had about 20. So we were struggling, volunteer-wise, but everybody who came gave 110% and did great."

The organsisers are hoping that the success of the Féile will mark a first step toward the Fleadh eventually returning to Athlone.

"The ultimate desire for all of the committee and support team is for Athlone to eventually hold the national Fleadh," said John Madden.

"The national Fleadh Cheoil hosts are generally scheduled several years in advance, however Athlone was well able to put its very best foot forward in this regard and has proven it can host something so monumental."