Offaly Fleadh Chéoil 2005.

On the weekend of May 6th, 7th and 8th 2005 Kinnitty village and Kinnitty National School in particular played host to the annual County Fleadh.

A lot of work was done in preparation for the fleadh both in and outside of the school. A very hardworking committee was formed and they spent weeks preparing for the event. Sponsorship was raised, timetables drawn up, flags, bunting and a "gig rig" were put in place and an air of festivity prevailed in the village.

The Fleadh Committee organised a colouring competition and a Seán Focail poster competition. Entries were submitted from schools all over Offaly. There were so many entries that we couldn't display them all (almost 600 altogether) One hundred of the best were displayed in the school corridoor during the Fleadh. There were great prizes for the winners including a cruise on the Shannon, entry for six people in the cinema and more.

Most of the competitions were held in the four school classrooms. These included Comhra Gaeilge competitions from under 11 to under 18 and many competitions for Irish music including fiddle, accordian, concertina, tinwhistle, flute, banjo, mandolin, melodeon, harp, bodhran and uileann pipes as well as singing, lilting and whistling no less!

In the school we had a hectic week preparing for the fleadh too! We spent a lot of time doing art projects to decorate our school. We designed Irish dancing costumes, made bodhráns from cardboard and paper with celtic designs on them, we coloured a large poster of a session, made tinwhistles from paper and also coloured lots of celtic designs. (see the photo below)


The Fleadh opened on Friday evening with a concert in the community centre, it was a great concert, about thirty young musicians from all over Offaly played and danced. There were speeches by some people including our newly elected Lord Mayor, Jim Kinsella.

On Saturday morning programmes were being sold by pupils from our school and the first competitors for the Comhrá Gaeilge began to arrive. Children were practicing music outdoors and there was a great sense of excitment. That evening there was a lovely peaceful fleadh Mass in St. Flannan's church, most of the mass was in Irish and traditional Irish music was played during it. Outside after mass the Rahan Comhaltas group entertained the crowd.

The main competitions were on Sunday. A large crowd attended the country market stands in the village during the day and live music and dancing continued into the evening.
Afterwards everyone said it was one of the best Fleadh Cheoils ever! We all enjoyed the Fleadh very much and hope it will be in Kinnitty again soon.

By Lisa, Kelly, Niamh and Elaine.