Song about the Mullingar Fleadh released

A Mullingar native and musician who moved away in 2010 has penned a song about the Fleadh.

Lars Vincent McKevitt, a former soldier who served overseas on four occasions, in the Lebanon, twice in Liberia, and Chad, went into music after leaving the army in 2011.

He released his debut EP ‘I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday’ in May 2012 followed by debut album, Demos, in 2016.

“The song was inspired by a trip home on the Saturday, the day before the Fleadh started,” Lars Vincent explains.

“I was impressed with how well the town looked and a sense of pride in our musical folks, in the shape of Joe Dolan, Ollie Kennedy, Mick Foster.

"And the thoughts of my own maternal granddad and grand uncle, John Dunne and Frank Kavanagh respectively, both fiddle players, who both played at the previous Fleadhs in Mullingar in 1951 and 1963.

“I started to write the song on the Saturday evening, chord structure and the melody first, then I worked on a vocal air followed by the lyrics.

“On finishing the song I laid down a few demos of it and then recorded it the following morning, the Sunday the Fleadh started."

Lars Vincent performed ‘The Fleadh in Mullingar’ throughout the eight-day festival and was happy with how well it was received.

Laurence will perform it again on Monday, September 5 on the 12 Bongs Show with Ray Dolan.

Lars Vincent’s debut album, Demos, was highly reviewed at the time by The Ticket, GoldenPlec, Irish Music Magazine and gained him the support slot on Irish tours with both The Fureys and Bagatelle.