My Fleadh: Colin Watters

How was your fleadh? Were you busy?

“It was an absolutely amazing experience and one that I was delighted to be involved and play a small part in,” says Mullingar man, Colin Watters, who was a volunteer coordinator for the week-long festival.

“I was kept very busy. Myself, Julia Dalton (volunteer chairperson) and Joe Gettings (volunteer coordinator) started at 8am every morning and the finish times got later and later as the week went on.

Did you see much music?

“I got to see the first four songs of the Kilfenora Céilí Band in St Paul’s Church on the Saturday and then as volunteer coordinators, we all headed down to the Gig Rig 1 on the Sunday for two hours for the closing ceremony, which was electric.

“I saw bits and pieces of the music on the streets and particularly enjoyed the kids having so much fun, with not a computer or tablet in sight.”

How do you think Mullingar coped?

“While there is stuff I would tweak, I think Mullingar coped amazingly well and is perfectly suited to this mammoth festival.

“To hear visitors compliment how everything was laid out, how clean everywhere was, how accessible the car parking was and how welcoming and friendly Mullingar residents are…Mullingar has always played second fiddle to the more touristy Athlone, and that has been blown out of the water. Now it's up to us to embrace it.”

What are your standout moments?

“Oh I’ve so many, from getting Lewis Capaldi to praise the fleadh, only for him to end up speaking Irish, to giving a fleadh tour to some visiting clergy, which included the Bishop. The Vatican’s envoy to Ireland had never seen anything like the fleadh before and was flabbergasted at the sights and sounds, particularly how much fun the kids were having.

“Giving Minister Catherine Martin a tour of our Volunteer HQ, which included the room where the very first fleadh took place, was special.

“I helped organise over 1,000 volunteers, who ran the fleadh so smoothly. You couldn’t praise those guys enough.

“The lad dressed as a turf basket will definitely live long in the memory,” he laughs, “while the 140,000 plus people in Mullingar on a Saturday evening, how could you top that?"

“My standout moment is getting two of my kids, Lilly (10) and Kiera (7), to try out different Irish instruments and for them to love it and take to it like ducks to water.

“Roll on September when they can start properly!”