Treat for Longford traditional music lovers at inaugural Féile Joe Callaghan
Amid a rustic setting of historical artefacts and stained glass windows, the audience were treated to the best of Irish music
A great weekend of music, song and dance was served up at the inaugural Féile Joe Callaghan in Mostrim on Saturday and Sunday, April 5 & 6.
It started off on Saturday at 1pm with a set dancing workshop in St Mary's National School. The workshop was attended and Eirin Dully put the dancers through their steps.
At 7.30pm on Saturday evening there was a concert in St John’s Church of Ireland where we were all treated to a fabulous evening of music and song by a young Trad band called Peter Street hailing from Tipperary and Cork. They played a mixture of instruments. Although the band consisted of four musicians it sounded as if there were a lot more.
Amid a rustic setting of historical artefacts and stained glass windows, the audience were treated to the best of Irish music. They also sang four beautiful songs containing fabulous melodies and harmonies.
The Patriot game written by Fergal O’Hanlon was sung with such passion that one could hear a pin drop. Later on the song all about Willie Clancy's summer school in Milltown Malbay enthralled the audience as did the old Canadian song Aragon Mill also known as The Belfast Mill. Their final song was written by the late Shane MacGowan called The Broad Majestic Shannon and it went down a treat. They finished off with their signature tune called Peter Street. Local pub sessions followed on late into the night.
On Sunday afternoon there were numerous workshops in St Mary's school which were well attended. It is hoped to make the Féile Joe Callaghan an annual event.
The organisers of Féile Joe Callaghan would like to thank Labhras O Murchú from CCE, Fáilte Ireland under Longford Tourism, Longford Arts Office, the hard working committee, tutors, parents and audiences for their support.