Athlone music maestro to open Féile Ceoil 2024

Athlone's very popular Irish music and culture festival for primary school children – Féile Ceoil na Scoileanna Áth Luain – has announced that PJ Stacey will officially open this year's festival on Tuesday, March 12 next.

The festival, which is now it its 56th year, will run for three days in the Dean Crowe Theatre next week, from March 12 to 14 inclusive, and will feature choirs, singing, instrumental music, school bands, verse, mime and dance performed by primary school children from Westmeath, Roscommon and the greater Midlands area.

The organising committee is honoured to have the official opening peformed by PJ Stacey, who is synoymous with the musical life of Athlone for many years as a musician, organist, French horn player and music teacher.

Having served for 28 years in the Band of the Western Command in Custume Barracks Athlone, the gifted local musician is no stranger to the Féile Ceoil as he has been an integral part of the festival for over three decades. Countless children from across the Midlands have performed on the Dean Crowe Theatre stage under PJ's expert direction, and he has also directed the children’s choir at 10.30am mass and is currently choirmaster of Ss Peter’s and Paul’s Church, a role he has also held for over three decades

More recently, PJ Stacey, alongside JP Burke, has recorded the song: Ireland, Mother Ireland – The Emigrant Song which is currently available on CD.

PJ will perform the official opening of the Féile Ceoil na Scoileanna Áth Luain 2024 at the Crowe Theatre on Tuesday of next week, March 12, at 7pm.

Tickets for this year's festival can be purchased on the door by cash or card, with the adult entry fee set at €5 and €1 per child. Children who are performing at the event have free entry and doors open at 6.30pm each night.

The Féile Ceoil was originally set up with two main aims: to promote Irish culture, music, song and dance which are now an integral part of the school education system, and to provide enjoyment through singing, music and dance for the many children and their parents and friends who support the Féile each year.

All school children who take part in the annual Athlone Féile are prepared in school by their teachers, with support from helpers and music specialists. The parents also play an active role in the event by helping with costumes and props while also providing vital support to their children in the home environment while they rehearse for their performance on stage.

The Féile is an ideal chance for children from the greater Midlands area to showcase their musical, creative and dramatic talents in front of a live audience in the Dean Crowe Theatre and three nights of wonderful musical entertainment is guaranteed for all in Athlone next week.

Full details on the Féile and a programme of events is now available on the Facebook page of Féile Ceoil na Scoileanna and on feileceoil.com