Newry's very first festival of traditional and folk music takes place in the city next month and it will highlight the massive talent of our homegrown musicians in over 30 venues throughout the city. As part if the festival The 4 of Us will play their first gig back in Newry Town Hall in 25 years!
Iur Cinn Fleadh runs from Friday the 12th to Sunday the 14th of September and with over 70 gigs happening in more than 30 venues it’s extremely unlikely the “buzz” won’t be noticed by residents and visitors alike! The Fleadh promises the best in home grown folk and trad talent with a little bit of rock and roll and country thrown in for good measure. Síoda, Claire and Ursula Byrne, The Rooneys, Mary O’Neill, Warrenpoint Comhaltas, Cup O’Joe, Oscail, Brandé, All Folked Up, Martha Guiney Band and many many more will perform in the City’s bars, cafes and streets and even on board a tall ship.
As part of the Fleadh, 25 Years after it all began, Newry’s favourite sons of rock The 4 of Us play a return concert to Newry Town Hall on Saturday the 13th. Members of the current band and the original will all be on the Town Hall Stage. This will be the third and final time all the members of both the original and current line-ups will play together. Don't miss it. Tickets for The 4 Of Us are priced £17.00 and are available from The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre. The box office number is 028 3031 3180. Tickets are also available from Ticketmaster.ie.
Mayor of Newry & Mourne District Council Darie Hughes said that it is so exciting to see so many events happening in Newry during the first Iur Cinn Fleadh and hopes that this is the start of many more in the future.
Quirkier events include Bluegrass and Gypsy Jazz band Cup O’Joe made up of brothers, Benjamin (20) who plays Upright Bass and Reuben (18) Guitar and Mandolin and sister Tabitha (15) Banjo and Fiddle who will join the Riverside Choir at Riverside Church at 6.30pm on Friday night for a session to remember.
Trad music will be wafting through the air when tall ship Soteria sets sail from the Albert Basin at 7pm on the Friday and Saturday nights for a two hour trip up the Canal.
Sunday from 5pm sees an evening of Céilí and Set Dancing at Newry Town Hall with The Mournes Céilí Band while earlier in the weekend members of U3A are holding a Ceili and Old Tyme Tea Dance in the Canal Court at 2pm on Friday.
Newry Historical Tours will be taking you on a tour around the city, with musical interludes provided by David Cunningham and sure why not sing a wee song yourself!
Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail are offering a free one day Liofa Intensive Irish Course from 10am on Saturday. Also on Saturday there’s Street Theatre from Newpoint Players at Marcus Square and on the path across from the Canal Court Hotel from 2pm. There are also Currach trips on the Albert Basin from 3pm.
Dominic Kirwan plays Newry Town Hall on the Friday night at 8pm for the Country Music fans.
If you are musical and not just a listener make sure you enter the competition for the Newry.ie Best Street Session on Saturday at 12pm in Hill Street where there is £100 up for grabs for the winner.
All this and much more at Newry’s inaugural Iur Cinn Fleadh from the 12th to the 14th of September. All that’s missing is you so be sure to get down and join in.
Iur Cinn Fleadh is one of the signature projects of new campaigning group Newry 2020. Neil Bradley, one of the founding members of the group and a sponsor of the festival said “Iur Cinn Fleadh would not be possible without the tireless work and financial assistance from our sponsors Newry and Mourne District Council, Koffy, Jack Murphy Jewellers, Amplified, www.SocialClix.biz, Sugar Supper Club, Newry Maritime Association and www.newry.ie as well as support from all our fantastic venues. We are extremely excited about the very first Iur Cinn Fleadh and look forward to it being a regular event in the Newry calendar for many years to come.”
The majority of events are free but tickets need to be purchased for some including the 4 Of Us, Céilí and Set Dancing, Dominic Kirwan and the Tall Ship Session. To find out how to buy tickets or for more information go to the Fleadh website at www.iurcinnfleadh.com or pick up an event guide and poster from the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry Library or many other locations throughout the city.
