Fleadh Hits High Note with Session to Beat All Sessions

Friday evening saw almost 3,500 musicians and singers play traditional Irish music for over an hour to break the record for the Worlds Largest Traditional Irish Session

Date released: Friday, 21st August, 2009

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2009 brought thousands of traditional music, song and dance enthusiasts to Tullamore, County Offaly for an amazing celebration of Irish Culture.

And, Friday evening saw almost 3,500 musicians and singers play traditional Irish music for over an hour as part of an electrifying celebration of Irish culture.

It was part of the World’s Largest Traditional Irish Music Session attempt and it was the session to beat all sessions.

It was preceded by a wonderfully colourful opening parade that saw musicians from around Ireland and the world march through the streets of Tullamore to the town’s Market Square.

The 2009 Fleadh kicked off on August 16^th last and continues until tomorrow, Sunday 23^rd August with the event closing with the Senior Ceili band competition, which takes place in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore.

This event has become a firm favourite of Fleadh Cheoil and at its inaugural undertaking in 2007, it saw 2,700 people playing traditional Irish music and song for 45 minutes.

In 2008, there were 2,852 playing for 56 minutes and this year, there was 3,457 people playing for over an hour.

It was the innovative idea of the Fleadh’s Youth Officer, James Hogan and it is a fantastic event that has continued in success over the past three years.

“We were delighted with the event on Friday. It was great to look out from the stage in Market Square and see so many people enjoying themselves,” James enthused.

“We had asked people to download the tunes and songs from the Fleadh’s website. We wanted to make this the best session attempt yet and I believe that we have succeeded in doing so,” the Youth Officer added.

Attracta Brady, Chairperson of the organising committee, was also delighted with the event and thanked everyone involved in organising it and also all those who took part in this wonderful fete.

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