As Cavan prepares to move centre-stage on the Irish traditional music, song and dance calendar for the All-Ireland Fleadh, what better way to get in the mood than with the annual NYAH Festival!
The NYAH Traditional Arts Festival is now in its seventh year. The festival celebrates the traditional music, song, dance and culture of County Cavan, placing a strong emphasis on the county’s very own musical style within the Ulster Tradition.
Top artists performing this year include button accordion legend Joe Burke, who heads a Gala Concert at the Farnham Arms Hotel on Saturday 13th March. Featuring a host of talented performers, this concert, compered by Kieran Hanrahan of RTE’s ‘Ceili House’, will celebrate the election of champion lilter Seamus Fay as All-Ireland Fleadh President 2010. Adm €15 To book tickets t:086 234 2270
The ‘Celebration of the Music of Eddie Clarke’ at the Ramor Theatre, Virginia on Friday 19th March will pay a well-deserved tribute to the traditional harmonica music of the late, great Eamonn (Eddie) Clarke of Virginia featuring fellow harmonica virtuosos like All-Ireland champ Noel Battle of Mullingar and Mick Kinsella from Clare, who is also a great exponent of the concertina. This event, hosted by Cavan fiddle king Antóin Mac Gabhann will also mark the launch of a four-CD compilation of Eddie’s tunes and songs (Adm €16 & €14, tickets from Ramor Box Office t: 049 854 7074).
A special Meitheal Summer School 2009 Concert in the Farnham Arms Hotel on Friday 12th, will showcase the talents of younger musicians.
Other sessions include The Widow’s, Belturbet; Smith & Wilson’s, Cavan town; Farnham Arms Hotel in Cavan and Boylan’s of Kilnaleck, and shows such the Dr Brian Galligan Memorial Concert in Kilnaleck on Thurs 25th and the 41st Annual Mullahorn Concert on Sunday 28th March.
Tuesday 23rd will see ‘A Wild Night of Cavan NYAH’ hit the Button Factory in Temple Bar. The cream of the county’s singers and players will be there, with the old guard Antóin Mac Gabhann and Seamus Fay leading the way in a Fleadh-year celebration of all things Cavan hosted by Martin Donohoe.
NYAH 7 is subsidised by the Arts Council Ireland, Cavan Co Council Arts Office, Farnham Arms Hotel Cavan, USA Folk Award festival funding, Lynchprint Cavan, Riverfront Hotel Virginia, Wranglers, Peace III, Cavan Co Museum, Comhaltas, Smith & Wilson’s bar Cavan, Widows Bar Belturbet, Shannonside Northern Sound and Sean Tarpey.