Fleadh Na Mi 2016 started in Navan on Tuesday 17th May and will continue until Sunday 22nd May. The Navan branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) has been working very hard to make this one of the best county fleaths ever with the theme ' You can't beat the feeling '
For Irish music, song and dance.
Navan is the place to be this week.
There will be all sorts of entertainment and activities happening all over the town as well as the usual competitions. Chairman of the Navan branch CCE, Paddy Pryle, wished all the competitors a wonderful competition. He said, this is a brand new traditional music festival for Navan.
The activities started on Tuesday 17 May with the Eve of Fleadh Singers Evening when the singers' Circles of Navan and Trim joined forces in Smyth's of the Bridge public house, Bridge Street, at 9pm for what was a great night of '' songs and stories by the Bridge ''.
The Fleadh was officially launched, in the Lantern, Watergate Street, at 8pm on Wednesday. There was demonstrations of sean nos, set and ceili dancing by members of Meath's eight CCE branches. The VIP for the evening was Ann Finnegan, President of CCE and a great nights entertainment was enjoyed by all.
On Thursday night ' The Story of the Foggy Dew ' takes place in the Solstice Arts Centre and Navan Library, Railway Street, at 6.30pm, there will be the 1916 exhibition at the Solstice Arts Centre before the Story and Music of the 1916 Foggy Dew will be told in the library.
A seisiun mor will follow in James Fox's public house, Abbeylands, at 9.30pm, when members of CCE,Navan and friends will present an evening of traditional music and song by the fireside.
On Friday the fleadh will take over the Fair Green from 10am to 12 noon, where many local musicians and dancers will invite Friday shoppers to partake in a song or a dance beside the ' Rambling Cottage '.
This will be followed by a lunch time tradition session between 1pm and 2pm in the Central Bar and Restaurant, Trimgate Street, with the members of the CCE Navan and friends. Special deals on meals are available for this event at the venue.
The fleadh competitions will begin on Friday night with set sean nos dances competitions for places in the Leinster Fleadh in St Mary's Community Centre, Trimgate Street,at 8pm.
The evening finishes with a ceili and all will be encouraged to take to the floor.
Amoung the Navan public houses which will feature a traditional session on Friday evening will be The Old Bridge Inn, The Foundry, Ludlow Street, and Teamhrach, Trim Road Navan.
Saturday 21st May is Family Fun Day at the Fleadh. There will be traditional music on the streets from 2pm to 4pm with prizes being given to the best street performers.
to participate, send applications to Comhaltas Navan through the branch email
info@comhaltasnavan.com verifying you are taking part. Intending participants can also register on the day at the Kennedy Road entrance to Navan Shopping Centre at 1.30pm.
The adjudicator will award €150 to the best group, €100 to the second and the next five groups will receive €50.
There will also be live music by the old town wall all afternoon outside Ryan's public house,Trimgate Street.
The Fleadh Family treasure Hunt also takes place between 2pm and 4pm commencing from Mervyn's Yard in the Central Bar and Restaurant, Cornmarket.
Some very old musical instruments belonging to CCE's Navan branch have gone missing and are believed to be hiding around the town. The instruments are called Do, Ra, Mi and Fa and the public will be urged to help find them.
These will be life-size cartoon characters created by Cormac, the good Druid of Tara, after he created music! Entries will be accepted on the day with prizes for the winner.
The Fladh Traditional Mass will take place at 6pm at St Mary's Church on Saturday.
The Fladh Parade and Big Band Competition will take place at 6.30pm, assembling at Leighsbrook Lane, beside the St Joseph's and Trim Road. Following the completion of the accordion band competition, all assembled will gather for a 1916 Fleadh street parade that will take in Railway Street north, Trimgate Street, Market Square, Ludlow Street, Church Hill before finishing on the Fair Green. All clubs and organisations are invited to take part in this once in a century event. Entries should be sent to
info@comhaltasnavan.com
This will be followed Oiche na Gaelige from 9pm where locals and visitors can enjoy songs, stories and a tune or two in Paddy Fitzsimons's Lounge, Trimgate Street.
There will also be a Fleadh for charity from 9pm with a session in the garden in the Round O, Slane Road, in aid of SOSAD. It will feature local band, Eistigi, and all local musicians who wish to lend a hand to this great cause are welcome.
Sunday 22 May sees the main competition day in St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School from 10am to 5pm, with entrance only through the Brews Hill Gates. Admission is €5 with children and competitors free.
Navan public houses that will feature traditional music on Fleadh Sunday will include Fulham's Railway Street, and Beggy's Bar and Lounge, Bridge Street.
The Fleadh Closing Session from 7pm to 9pm will take place at Mervyn's Yard at The Central, hosted by the members and friends CCE Navan. Visitors and visiting musicians will be very welcome.
Source Meath Chronicle.
