The Cuisle Cheoil festival was heralded a wonderful success and certainly livened up a cold February weekend in Gorey.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Tomás Keegan, Treasurer, said lovers of Irish music enjoyed a feast of entertainment and the town was buzzing with the sound of music, song and dance.

Various musicians travelled from different parts of Ireland to participate and to sample the atmosphere and this side of the festival is the aim of the promoters and they will be hoping to build up a reputation for the festival.

Highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly the Festival Concert in Gorey Little Theatre where a capacity audience enjoyed outstanding performances by some of Ireland’s greatest exponents of traditional music  including Catherine McEvoy, (flute), MacDarragh O’Raghallaigh, (fiddle) and John Connolly, (button accordion), as well as the outstanding voice of singer Karan Casey and the magical sean-nós dancing of Úna Ní Fhlatharta.

The show was compered by the very entertaining and knowledgeable, Áine Hensey, who is well known to listeners of traditional music on Raidio na Gaeltachta and RTE radio.

The atmosphere for the weekends festivities was well established on Friday night by some rousing music sessions in a number of the town’s pubs including French’s, Katie Daly’s, Loch gCarman Arms and a very enjoyable traditional singing session in The Coach House, anchored by Paul O’Reilly, Niall Wall and Helen Kirwan.

Highly informative workshops on traditional music and dancing were presented over the weekend by music lecturers, Ciarán Somers and Nora Kavanagh, as well as dancers Úna Ní Fhlatharta and Angela Bernard.

Even Mass-goers in St Michael’s Church were given a flavour of the weekend’s activities at the Festival Mass on Sunday morning where the liturgy was enhanced by traditional music.

Sunday afternoon’s highlight was a very impressive and entertaining recital in Gorey Little Theatre Hall by traditional music youth groups from Gorey, Craanford, Tinahely, Ferns and Blessington .

The audience was particularly impressed with the sight of 65 young musicians from all five groups massed on stage for a very lively finale.

Organisers of the festival expressed themselves delighted with the overall success of the weekend and are already discussing how next year’s event can be expanded and improved.

Full report in THE GOREY ECHO.