‘Dungloe has gone all out in hosting the Fleadh Cheoil’

A weekend packed full of events is in store at the Fleadh Cheoil 2024 which is set to take place in Dungloe from this Friday to Sunday. 

Described as “where magic meets music” the three-day event showcases a jam-packed schedule. 

The musical event will officially open at 7pm on Friday with Jimmy and Anne Brennan, however, events will be held from Thursday evening. The festival then runs until late Sunday evening when the closing session will be held in the Bridge Inn. Live music will be performed at the Main Street Gig Rig and competitions will be held at Rosses Community School. 

“Everything is very positive so far, from last year to this year entries have tripled,” Karl Doherty, Fleadh An Clochán Liath Committee Chairperson, said. “Most of the preparation is done, we are in the final stages the gig rig has landed and the marquee has gone up. We have a fantastic committee and a great pool of support thankfully. We have tried to involve the whole community and the committee always said if we are going to do it we will do it right.”

Scoil Chróine Principal Mícheál Ó Fearraigh, Karl Doherty Fleadh Chairperson, Clara Bonner who designed the logo, Gráinne Nic Niallais BSG and Marie Bonner (Clara's Mum)

The festival is predominantly Irish Language and will attract competitors, musicians, singers, bands and cultural enthusiasts from across the county. 
“It is great to host an Irish-language event in Dungloe, making the native language more prominent since Dungloe has become an Irish service town,” Gráinne NicNiallais, Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga, Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta, An Clochán Liath said. “Dungloe has gone all out in hosting the Fleadh Cheoil, with strong support from local businesses and a strong committee working behind the scenes.”

Throughout the weekend, there will be music events, competitions, session trails, treasure hunts, céilí dancing and a youth orchestra. 

Events like this depend on local volunteers and increase revenue in local businesses - it showcases the importance of language tourism and how it can benefit local economies. The Fleadh Cheoil event organisers would like to extend a thank you to everyone in the community who supported the festival, all businesses who sponsored the festival and especially to Marian Sweeney who designed the graphics and Eimear Walsh who worked tirelessly as the social media manager to promote the event online. 

Fleadh Cheoil na Contae has previously taken place in Dungloe in 1981, 1982, 2002 and 2003. This year’s Fleadh Cheoil logo was designed by Clara Bonner from Dungloe. The 11-year-old received the top award out of 130 entries,  involving several schools from across the Rosses. In the competition, students were asked to complete a logo for the Fleadh, which had to be related to the town or area itself - in this case, The Rosses - and the design had to include a musical element.

Clara was crowned the overall winner for her fantastic artwork which depicted a troll playing a harp. The action gets underway on Friday at 11am, with a Raidió na Gaeltachta live broadcast, followed by ‘The Jive Time’ at Fleadh Raidió at the Cope at 2:30pm. There’s an Irish Treasure Hunt with Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta An Clochán Liath at the Riverwalk and throughout the town at 5pm.

The official opening will take place on Friday at 7pm  on the Main Street, with Jimmy and Anne Brennan. This will be followed by Emma Ní Fhíoruisce at 8pm, followed by An Ceilí Mór at 9pm. There is also late night trad music at the Bridge Inn from 10pm.

Events kick off on Saturday at 10am with the Official Fleadh Competitions taking place at Rosses Community School, next up is at midday where an U10 Gaelic and Hurling Blitz will take place at CLG Dungloe, Rosses Park, at 1:30pm there will be a Céilí Band Competition held at Rosses Community School.

Shortly after, at 2pm an Irish Dancing Showcase will be held at the Mainstreet Gig Rig, at 4pm a Fleadh Winners Concert will take place also at the Gig Rig. At 6pm a youth orchestra will take centre stage at the Gig Rig and to finish off Saturday’s festivities a Fleadh Festival Club with Pólca 4 will take place at the Bridge Inn and tickets are available from Eventbrite. 

Sunday will be the final day of the Fleadh Cheoil na Contae, at 11am a Fleadh Mass will take place in Teach Pobail Naomh Cróine and will be broadcast live on Rádio na Gaeltachta. At 2pm there will be a Marching Band Competition which will take place at Rosses Community School Astro Turf Pitch, at 4pm there will be a Fleadh Flute Finale taking place at the Main Street gig rig and a Local song showcase at 7pm in St Crone’s Church of Ireland. The festivities will end on Sunday night in the Bridge Inn.