My Fleadh: Enda Seery

How was your fleadh, were you busy?

I sure was busy. As a member of the Fleadh Executive Committee, I knew I was going to be busy though. Its an event we’ve been planning for approximately four years or more. I was chairperson of a sub committee organising the scheduling and artists for the two gig rig stages, youth events and album launches. There were six of us on this committee. Of course, we all physically couldn’t have attended all of these events so we worked out a rota. I tried my best to visit and supervise as many as possible. A lot of my time was spent on the NMCU Gig Rig stage at Blackhall welcoming the artists and working with the sound and stage crew and volunteers on the management of the live proceedings.

Did you get to see/play much music during the week?

Obviously I had a lot of other commitments especially on the gig rig stages, but I was privileged to have been asked to play music by a number of radio and TV stations as well as some live performances with Alp Luachra. At the beginning of the week, I was a guest on Midlands 103 with Frank Kelly where I chatted and played a few sets of tunes. Alp Luachra played an amazing concert in the Arts Centre on Monday night.

Later in the week, I was interviewed and played tunes on Raidió na Gaeltachta at their broadcast ‘Ródaí’. Friday night saw me heading up to the RTÉ Radio 1 broadcast van outside the Annebrook House Hotel to be interviewed by John Creedon and play a few tunes. I was up fairly bright and early Saturday morning to then record a music piece with my good musical friend John Byrne for the RTÉ Fleadh programme to be broadcast early next year.

How do you think Mullingar coped?

In my opinion, Mullingar coped exceptionally well with the demands of hosting such a big event. We’re very lucky to have a long wide street going from the Green Bridge to Dublin Bridge. We have venues all within walking distance of each other. Of course, the town just embraced the fleadh and the pubs, restaurants and business people are to be applauded for their creativity, hospitality and friendliness towards the thousands of visitors. The county council were excellent in their management of the town and the local Fleadh Executive Committee were very satisfied with how all these various aspects fell into place.

What are your standout memories from the fleadh.

I’ve a few! The sight of thousands of people at Blackhall Place on the opening day was something to cherish and behold. Myself and the Alp Luachra band had an absolute ball on the Monday night playing for a brilliant Arts Centre audience. We have big things planned for the band so watch this space!

I’ll never forget the roar of the crowd when Kieran Hanrahan introduced the live broadcast of RTÉ Radio 1’s Céili House on the main Saturday night from the NMCU Gig Rig stage.

Finally, it was a real honour playing with my family and a lot of my students from Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas on the final Sunday afternoon at Blackhall. It also meant a lot to see so many loved ones, family and friends in the audience in glorious summer sunshine.