Féile Raifteirí 2010

Féile Raifteirí for Everyone!

Coiste Fhéile Raifteirí are delighted with their achievements for this year’s festival. Of course, the entire programme of events went extremely well as the various traits of Raifteirí as a Gael, a poet, a singer and musician were celebrated.
The festival officailly opened with a music, singing and poetry session under the theme ‘Raifteirí... fear conspóideach ( a man of conspiracy)’
There was a fine selection of poetry with renowned poets Colette Nic Aodha, Philip Cummings and Simon Ó Faoláin reading. Some of Raifteirí’s work was read and a number of pieces were especially composed for the occasion as there was great support from members of ‘Baffle’. The music and song was under the guidance of Nóirín Ní Ghrádaigh, Verena Commins and Seán Ó Flannagáin.
The composition continued with Philip Cummings providing a poetry workshop ‘Cúl a’ Tí’ at Gaeilge Locha Riach offices.
That afternoon schools and youth groups came together in the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa to celebrate ‘Ceolchoirm na n-Óg’. It is understood that many of these groups had been preparing for this occasion over a number of months as Irish Language drama group ‘Branar’ and sean-nós singer, Treasa Ní Cheannabháin had provided a varied series of workshops for them. In total, seven different youth groups/schools took to perform on stage providing very enjoyable selection of music, song, poetry and drama.

It must be said that the grand festival concert in Loughrea Library proved to be very special indeed with an excellent host of musicians, singers, poets and dancers including: Joe Burke, Ann Conroy-Burke, Charlie Piggott, Marian McCarthy, Manus Maguire, Denis Carey, Catherine Mannion, Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Tommy Healy, Muireann Ní Dhuigneáin, Philip Cummings and Simon Ó Faoláin. The library team and sound engineer played an extremely important role in making this concert one for the audience to remember.
Sunday morning, the spiritual aspects of Raifteirí were commemorated at a special ‘Aifreann i nGaeilge’ at which Music Matters provided music and song.
That afternoon, a crowd of young people gathered in Craughwell where they celebrated Raifteirí’s birthday in style with more music, song and a birthday cake.
Coiste Fhéile Raifteirí are very proud that such a packed program was provided for this years festival. This of couse was due to the great support of their sponsors which helped so much to bring Féile Raifteirí back for 2010:
The Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Lough Rea Hotel & Spa, Coiste Gairmoideachais Chontae na Gaillimhe, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, Comhar Creidmheasa Naomh Breandáin, Sunrise Health Store, John Collins Accounting, Il Porcetto, Baffle, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Keary Auctioneering, Gaeilge Locha Riach and Cairde Raifteirí.
It is understood between seven and eight hundred folk attended various events of Féile Raifteirí this year. Poets, singers, musicians, actors and the entire public of all ages seemed to enjoy the events of Féile Raifteirí.

Féile Raifteirí ’09

 ‘Special’ - Féile Raifteirí -

According to musician Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Féile Raifteirí was a ‘special event’ this year and it seems that a lot of people would agree with her. The various artistic traits of the multi-talented poet were celebrated and commemorated over the weekend.  His poetry, singing of both traditional and sean-nós styles, fiddle playing and music in general received special attention.

The  RTÉ RnaG broadcaster Máirtín Davy Ó Coisdealbha officially opened the festival before introducing Éamonn Ó Broithe to lead a discussion on Raftery ‘Is sinne na pócaí folmha’ which inspired quite a few thoughts on the traits of the talented character. It seems that Raifteirí still has the ability to create contention and debate. The company then stayed for a music and singing session with
Seán Ó Flannagain, Déaglán Ó Doibhlin and Aoibheann Ní Chonghalaigh.

There were various workshops organized on the Saturday, sean-nós singing with Treasa Ní Cheannabháin, poetry with Louis De Paor and both Aoibheann Ní Chonghalaigh and Paul O’Shaughnessy taking charge of the fiddle lessons. Poets, singers and musicians certainly were inspired by the guidance of the tutors.
A great crowd gathered for ‘Ceolchoirm na n-Óg’ that was hosted by Úna Ní Fhlannagáin as ‘Bean a’ Tí’. Five groups came together for this family concert including Killeeneen and Craughwell National Schools, Gaelscoil Riabhach, Cumann Óige Locha Riach and a young group of musicians from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The children celebrated the life of Raftery in song, poetry, music and dramatic interpretations of his work. This proved to be a very popular occasion indeed that parents and friends really enjoyed.

The main attraction of the festival concert in honour of Raifteirí was of top class. The line-up of Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Manus Lunny, Joe Burke, Ann Conroy Burke, Louis De Paor, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Tristen Rosenstock and Seosamh Ó Neachtain were impressive and certainly and performed to the highest standard. Antaine Ó Faracháin was M.C. for the evening, introducing the finest talent throughout the night. It was a pleasure to be in the audience.

On Sunday morning, mass was read  ‘Gaeilge / Béarla ’ in St. Brendan’s Hospital and particular attention was given to the spiritual works of Raifteirí. The mass itself became an event of celebration as a number of the patients took to the floor for a dance as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann played.
That afternoon, a crowd gathered in the Poets’ Graveyard in Killeeneen to pay homage to Raifteirí at his graveside. The crowd then gathered in Teampall Mháirtín, Craughwell to continue with the music in the company of Cormac Ó Beaglaoich and Tim Lyons.

Féile Raifteirí concluded with more song, poetry and music. A traditional singing circle came together with Antaine Ó Faracháin before leading into a music, singing and poetry circle. Eilish O’Connor and Máire O’Keeffe were guest musicians and the session was organized in conjunction with Baffle and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. There was a variety of modern poems and bilingual readings of Raifteirí’s poems, and much singing and music throughout the night. It must be said that the poetry, singing and music proved to be a great mix for the evening.

It is estimated that up to 800 people in the locality attended the various events over the weekend. The organizing committee are very proud that such a packed program was produced for this year’s festival and consider themselves lucky to attract such great talent to the Loughrea area. They recognize that this could not have happened without the support of their sponsors which helped so much to bring Féile Raifteirí back for 2009:
The Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Lough Rea Hotel & Spa, Coiste Gairmoideachais Chontae na Gaillimhe, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, Comhar Creidmheasa Naomh Breandáin, Sunrise Health Store, John Collins Accounting, Baffle, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gaeilge Locha Riach and Cairde Raifteirí.

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Féile Raifteirí

Márta 2008

Raftery
Raftery’s birthday was  celebrated on 30 March 2008.  If he was alive he would be 229 years old on this day.  Even though his body is laid in a coffin, his vigorous spirit is still with us in Ireland.
The commemoration of Raftery was held over a weekend in Loughrea.  The event focused on the various artistic traits of the multi-talented poet.  His poem, writing skills, singing of both traditional and sean-nós styles, fiddle playing and music in general received special attention.
The festival was officially opened by Seosamh Mac Donncha, chief executive of County Galway Vocational Education Committee.  He expressed his disappointment about not being able to participate in all the events, including workshops on poetry, fiddle playing, film script writing, verse dialogue, lúibíní, traditional and sean-nós singing and song improvisation.  There was signing circles, musical and poetic sessions, a lecture on the life and work of Raftery and the weekend ended with a great concert.  He praised all the sponsors who gave financial help to the committee to organise the wide scope of events.  The sponsors included The Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta, County Galway Vocational Education Committee, Saint Brendan Credit Union, Baffle, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Conradh na Gaeilge and Gaeilge Locha Riach.
It is worth mentioning that there was up to seven hundred people attending the various events of the festival and the town was very privileged to have so many visitors from other locations.  The singing workshop was conducted by Seán Mac Aindreasa and Meaitie Jó Shéamuis Ó Fatharta.  Rónán Ó Snodaigh instructed a a group of very enthusiastic people on song writing in Irish.  Two well known writers, Louis De Paor agus Ré Ó Laighléis, gave much inspiration to those trying to improve their writing skills.  Verse dialogue and luíbíní by masters of these styles, Éamonn Ó Donnchadha is Fearghas Mac Lochlainn, was a new phenomenon in the cultural life of Loughrea.  Famous local fiddlers of the area, Breda Keville, Paul Bradley and Paul O Shaughnessy, conducted workshops on fiddle playing.
Along with these events, an Irish language mass was read in Saint Brendan’s hospital with special attention to the spiritual poems of Raftery.
Friday night saw singing and poetic circles and poems with Baffle and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.  There was a variety of modern poems and translations of Raftery’s poems, and much singing and music throughout the night.
Saturday’s nigh started with an great lecture providing and insight into the work of Raftery by the expert Ciarán Ó Coigligh, which inspired much thinking and talk among the audience.  The Loughrea mummers gave a special performance about Raftery followed by music session with Colm and Finbarr Naughton leading well into the small hours.
One of the interesting aspects of the program was the many special guests who happily attended the event.  The festival ended with a great concert in honour of Raftery on his birthday Sunday 20 March attended by people who had taken part in the workshops and many others such as Joe Burke and Ann Conroy Burke, Charlie Lennon, Claire Keville, Terence O’Reilly, Tim Collins is Claire Griffin, Verena Commins, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta and Síle Ní Fhatharta.  There were music and singing, poetry, verse dialogue about Raftery and dancing according to the sean-nós style throughout the night.
Talking about the night, Joe Burke praised events such as the Féile Raftery, which clearly showed the continued cultural ability in our society to embrace our heritage.  He wished every success to the festival is looking forward to attend next year’s celebration of the poet.