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What a beautiful day for the start of Newry's signature festival Iúr Cinn Fleadh. Today we have Trad Cruises, Storytelling at TenX9, a Slow Session and a Trad session with guest artist piper Blackie O'Connell
Get yourselves along to some of the many events on offer. The festival runs from today until Bank Holiday Monday 28 August and there is something on offer for everyone, from trad sessions, Dancing on the Greens, a fun cycle, a trad cruise, childrens events, Horslips in conversation, Newry Water Festival and much more.
Check out www.iurcinnfleadh.com for full details. Tickets available for Horslips in Conversation and a few Trad Cruise tickets left at iur-cinn-fleadh-tickets-2023
Events Thursday 24 August
2pm-4pm
Trad Cruise – music from Elaine Donnelly and Davy McBride on the Brian Ború
7.30pm–9.30pm
Tell your story at Tenx9 – storytelling at The Phoenix Bar
Last year, nine people told their stories on the subject of music. This year the theme is ‘Lost’ – and Tenx9 want to hear your tale.
You can be among those who share their stories at Newry’s Phoenix Bar on Thursday 24 August at 7.30pm.
The belief behind Tenx9 is that everyone has a story to tell – and now you can share it. Submit your story by clicking here.
To get an idea of what happened before, you can listen to last year’s Fleadh stories by clicking here.
7.30pm-9.30pm
Trad Cruise – music from Finbar Magee and Breige Quinn on the Brian Ború
8pm-9pm
Trad Trail Slow Session – for intermediate standard players at the Railway Bar
9pm-11pm
Blackie O'Connell – guest musician at the Railway Bar sessions
Michael ‘Blackie’ O’Connell has been described as one of the most exciting uilleann pipers in traditional music. And he’s bringing those otherworldly tones to the first of the weekend’s evening sessions.
Blackie has been playing the pipes from a young age. He was taught by Limerick piper Mickey Dunne. His influences are the playing of Paddy Keenan, who is a regular visitor to his home in County Clare, Finbar Furey and Johnny Doran.
These days, Blackie can usually be found playing his pipes amid the bustling musical community of County Clare. Although he’s very much at home in his local bars at Ennis or Doolin, he regularly tours Europe, the USA and the Far East.
Blackie is Chairman of the Ennis Trad Festival, one of Ireland’s premier traditional festivals, and is a full-time tutor at the Irish World Academy of Music, University of Limerick. He created ‘Piping Heaven/Piping Hell’, a weekly gathering of uilleann pipers in Ennis, which has become an event of international renown.
It will be a special night when we welcome Blackie as guest musician for the session at The Railway Bar on Thursday 24 August. We’ll open the Fleadh with a flourish.
