ABBEYFEALE danced to a different beat over the weekend as its annual May Bank Holiday festival drew more than 2,000 people to the town.
Fleadh by the Feale once again welcomed some of the best traditional musicians, dancers, singers and storytellers from across Ireland and further afield.
Now in its 32nd year, there were five action-packed days of fun in West Limerick.
Local businessman Vincent Sheehy, Sheehy Hardware Ltd, is on the committee which runs the event.
“Sunday was our main day - we had a family fun day, a vintage car show, and we had the gala concerts in the school, which was a great success,” he said. “There was just a nice atmosphere around the town.”
Like elsewhere in Limerick at the weekend, the weather played a big part.
He said: “Rain stopped play at around 3pm, for an hour, but it came good again. In general, the weather was very good overall, which made it for the punters coming out. I’d say it would be a very successful Fleadh when we look back at it next week and reflect.”
Friday night saw entertainment in The Square, with traditional street busking competitions.
Vincent said he felt that set the tone for the weekend and raised the mood of the town.
Some 83 musicians came to Abbeyfeale for this year’s Fleadh.
There were musical workshops, and a traditional Mass.
Vincent explained that on Sunday night, a performance of Lunasa took place in Colaiste Ide agus Iosef.
The performers were supported by the school’s band.
For many, the highlight of the weekend came on Bank Holiday Monday night at the Gig Rig outdoor stage.
The area played host to the All-Ireland senior and junior bone competitions.
A bone competition generally refers to a contest involving the playing of rhythm bones, a traditional percussion instrument.
The rhythm of players, their technique and speed is measured.
Vincent acknowledges Fleadh by the Feale faces some stiff competition over the Bank Holiday: Riverfest in the city, plus festivals in Ballybunion and Killarney.
But it remains successful, providing a boost to the town at the start of the summer. He paid tribute to the financial support of businesses across the town to keep the show on the road.
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