By Damien Maher
The village of Ballynacargy is gearing for what promises to be a great festival of traditional music, song and dance, as the local CCÉ Branch plans its first Midsummer Trad Fest.
It all kicks off on Friday week, 27 June with a concert in the Church of the Nativity, Ballynacargy by We Banjo 3, described as the hottest group in traditional Irish music. The award-wining Irish old time bluegrass music and song group, featuring Enda and Fergal Scahill, Martin and David Howley, are sure to have the feet tapping when they take to the stage on the first night of the three-day festival.
Enda is superb on the banjo, while Fergal is a multi-instrumentalist; Martin Howley has won no fewer than seven All-Ireland Fleadh titles on the banjo and David is a hugely talented singer and multi-instrumentalist.
“We are really looking forward to this concert and I know there is a lot of talk about this band. It should be a great night,” enthused Ballynacargy CCÉ Chairman, Willie Penrose.
The festival continues throughout Saturday and on Saturday evening, the Ballynacargy church will be the venue for another great concert as Damien Mullane and his band take to the stage. The brilliant 27-year-old has a cv most veteran musicians would be proud of, including several All-Ireland titles on both accordion and melodeon.
He has been described as a virtuoso with an avant-garde style of playing and has toured extensively to places like Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India and the U.S.
“Saturday night’s concert is one not to be missed. Damien Mullane and his band will definitely have the crowd on their feet; for lovers of traditional music there’s only one place to be that evening,” remarked Willie Penrose ahead of the concert.
SUPERB WEEKEND
It certainly has the ingredients of a superb weekend in Ballynacargy and as the branch, which has 250 members, demonstrated when it hosted the Westmeath Fleadh last year, they know how to put on a show. It is incredible that they have been overlooked for this year’s Leinster Fleadh (regardless of all the excuses about a lack of venues) and they have certainly put together a wide-ranging programme of events for the entire weekend.
It starts on Friday, 27 June, with the official opening in the Gig Rig (6pm-8pm) with Martin Donoghue, one of the main organisers of Fleadh Cheoil na nÉireann in Cavan in 2010 and 2011, and an accomplished accordion player. Wee Banjo 3 will follow in concert from 8.30pm to 10.30pm and, after that, sessions will break out throughout the village.
Saturday is a big day, beginning with the workshops in button accordion, fiddle, banjo, guitar, flute, tin whistle and concertina. Some top tutors have been lined up for each discipline, including Clare’s Jack Talty (concertina), Mullingar’s John Byrne (guitar) and Castletown-Geoghegan native – now domiciled in Clare – Colin Nea (button accordion).
From 5pm-6pm that afternoon, there will be a session with the tutors and students, while at 6pm music starts on the Gig Rig. After that, from 8.30pm-10.30pm, Damien Mullane and his band will be live in concert. And from 10.30pm ’til late, the village of Ballynacargy will be alive with trad music sessions in every nook.
Sunday will see Mass celebrated by the Ballynacargy branch members at 11.30am, while there’s a session in the Gig Rig from 3pm-5pm. Set Dancing and Sean Nós competitions will take place from 5pm-7pm.
From 7-8pm there will be a session in the Gig Rig, followed by popular band, Ruaile Buaile (8.30-10.30pm). The excellent midlands quartet includes Niall Kelly (vocals, guitar, banjo), Shane Lynam (vocals, guitar, base), Jack Godley (banjo, cajon) and Arthur O’Connor (vocals, fiddle, banjo).
And from 10.30pm onwards, music sessions will kick off.
The concert has something for everyone with a flair for traditional music, song and dance and is certainly the place to be that weekend.
JigJam confirmed
JigJam, an exciting young band based around Tullamore, have confirmed their attendance at the Ballynacargy CCÉ Midsummer Trad Fest. They will play support to We Banjo 3 on the Friday night and will also play on the Gig Rig on Sunday evening.
Their style originates from traditional Irish Music, but also have a unique mixture of folk, modern and contemporary music with a bluegrass twist. The band consists of outstanding lead vocalist Jamie McKeogh on guitar and kick drum; the band is complemented by double bass extraordinaire Cathal Guinan, who also plays fiddle. Also in the group is one of Ireland’s best five string banjo players, Daithi Melia. All three members have won many accolades including All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles.
Dancing
competitions
There will be two dancing competitions on Sunday for two new trophies: the under 18 Set Dancing competition will be for the O’Mealy Cup, while the over 18 Sean Nós competition will be held for the Kilmurray Cup. The late Richard O’Mealy (uilleann piper) and Joe Kilmurray (uilleann piper and tin whistle player) are legendary names in the rich history of traditional Irish music in Ballynacargy.