Music competition organisers excited to bring event to local Tipperary town

Ahead of the launch of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2024, County Cathaoirleach and Committee Chairperson Barbara Ní Fheargail, and Munster Council Cathaoirleach Tadhg O Maolcatha spoke with the Tipperary Star about their excitement for the event, and what it means for those competing.

“The aims are to spread our culture: music, singing, dance, and language. We have competitions in Comhra Gaeilge for people to speak, and we have scéalaoicht, in which they can speak in Irish. We have dancing, and we have all the music competitions,” Ní Fheargail said.

“One of the main things in the Fleadh is to have competitions at Munster level to bring people to All Ireland. The people who win in Munster will represent Munster at the All Ireland in Wexford in August. But also this year, for the first time, we’re bringing the community Fleadh to Thurles, which means that we’re asking lots of people in the community to assist, so when you see our week’s programmes, you’ll see there are different groups from the town all going to do some little bit to make it a more community event, rather than just competitions,” she said.

They are hoping the people of Thurles welcome the Fleadh, and get out and celebrate the festivities.

“I’m looking forward to people enjoying themselves,” said O Maolcatha.

“It would be lovely to see it be very successful. We want to see people on the streets enjoying the music as well as in the venues for the competitions as well.”

The event could also bring great benefits to local businesses.

“It shows part of Tipperary that people have never been to before and shows them what’s available, because people go to a Fleadh and they might only spend a day or two here, but they generally come back again,” Ní Fheargail said.

“So it’s great for the whole infrastructure for the town, for the future, that those people who come for these few days will come back again, and it should bring great benefits to the economy.”