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Issued by the Kilfenora branch, Comhaltas Cillfhionnúrach16 March 2010 KILFENORA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010

One of Ireland’s villages most famed for its music is staging a music festival from Thursday 15 April to Monday 19 April 2010.

Contributing to the village’s uniqueness are a web of local families who have played in groups and céilí bands for around 140 years, starting with a fife and drum band in the 1870s and brass and reed band in the 1900s. Kilfenora’s most famous céilí band celebrated its centenary in 2009. 

The main events in this year’s festival are

?  a céilí with the fabulous Kilfenora Céilí Band,  in the village hall that past members helped to build in 1954 ( Saturday 17.4)

?  Further céilís in Vaughans Barn, with the Four Courts Band starring various celebrated musicians (15.4 and 18.4) and the Abbey Céilí Band on Friday 16.4 at a benefit for nursing in Rwanda.

?  a concert  featuring some of the cream of local talent including Tommy & Siobhan Peoples,  the band Moher, the Aibhin Holden School of Dancing and various All-Ireland winners in different disciplines (Kilfenora Hall, Friday 16.4) – see attached poster for the full listing

?  the Sean Nos extravaganza Fuaim Chonamara, featuring song, tunes, story-telling and dancing by the Cunningham family (17.4) – alongside media comments such as “better than Riverdance”, among many tributes from other great artists, John Kenny commented that this was “the one show in years that has blown me away... truly magnificent”

?  a Sunday matinee céilí with the Star of Munster in the Kilfenora Hall (18.4)

?  singing and instrumental sessions in the village pubs throughout the weekend with many fine musicians from North Clare and beyond.

Advance tickets for the Fuiam Chonamara show (€20) are available from Kilfenora outlets – including the Post Office, Linnanes,  Vaughan’s and Nagles pubs – with only 200 seats available! Tickets for the concert, Kilfenora Céili Band and Star of Munster céilís are €10, available on the night at venues.For more information, email John Morgan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it For additional background information, visit http://kilfenoramusicfest2010.viviti.com,  www.fuaimchonamara.ie  and www.kilfenoraceiliband.com.

Attached:            Kilfenora festival poster, Fuaim Chonamara poster
 

 Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh

National University of Ireland, Galway

25 November, 2009


JOHN JOSEPH LYNCH

Admission to Degree of Master of Music, honoris causa

Text of the Introductory Address delivered by Fr Diarmuid Hogan


Á Uachtaráin, a mhuintir na hOllscoile, a dhaoine uaisle, mo chairde -  Is mór an onóir dom bheith anseo   chun Seán O Laoinsigh agus an Banna Cheoil CillFhionnurach a cur in bhur láthair inniú.
Even in the context of North Clare villages, Kilfenora is small, very small. Corofin, Ennistymon, Ballyvaughan, Lahinch and Lisdoonvarna are major centres of population and commerce compared  to this tiny hamlet. The parish has a population of about 600. Three pubs – Vaughans, Nagles and Linnanes. Two shopkeepers – John O’Gorman and Gerry Howley. Nagles also have a drapery shop, well known as a great place to get a wedding outfit. Marie Hogan, my sister-in-law, is the Post Mistress. There is a three teacher National School and a small parish church. Tourists do come  to see the ruins of an eleventh century cathedral dedicated to St. Fachanan and to photograph the four remaining of an original seven twelfth century high crosses. They remain intrigued by the most peculiar historical anomaly that makes the Pope bishop of this place and they visit the small interpretive centre for the Burren which opened in 1976. However, as far as infrastructure and demographics, Cill Fhionnurach,  ‘the church on the fair brow’ might be considered by some who know no better as inconsequential.
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