Planned Athlone Festival is a ‘fringe Fleadh event’
A festival of Irish music and dance planned for Athlone in August will not impact on the programme of events for the annual Fleadh Cheoil which takes place in Mullingar at the same time.
The proposed festival, called ‘Feile na Sionainne’ is due to take place from August 6 to 8, but Cllr Aengus O’Rourke was at pains to point out at the June meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District that this is “a fringe Fleadh event” and does not mean that “the Fleadh is coming to Athlone”.
Having raised the issue by way of motion at the meeting, Cllr O’Rourke - who is one of the festival organisers – said the main programme of events for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023 will “continue as normal” in Mullingar at the same time as Athlone hosts ‘Feile na Sionainne.’
“This is not the Fleadh coming to Athlone, this is a fringe event and the main Fleadh will go ahead in Mullingar as normal while we host our own festival of Irish music and dance,” clarified Cllr O’Rourke.
He asked the municipal district to “support in every way possible” the Athlone festival, and not only did he receive strong support from his council colleagues, but the Executive also pledged their full support for the initiative.
Cllr O’Rourke pointed out that it has been 70 years since Athlone last hosted the Fleadh and described the proposed ‘Feile na Sionainne’ as “a festival of our Irish culture.” He asked his council colleagues and the Executive to “get behind” the plans to host the fringe event in Athlone in an effort to ensure its success.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Vinny McCormack expressed the hope that the Mardyke Street regeneration works might be “nearly finished” by August, while Cllr John Dolan said it is very hard for people to understand what the Fleadh Cheoil is about “until you actually experience it.”
Cllr Louise Heavin said it takes “a lot of work” to get a new festival off the ground and she queried if any progress had been made on the appointment of a Festival Officer. She also asked if the Environment Section of the council could ensure that the ‘Feile na Sionainne’ festival is staged in Athlone “in the greenest way possible”.
District Manager, Jackie Finney, told the municipal meeting that the council “will not be found wanting” in its support for the proposed festival and would work closely with the Festival and Events Co-ordination Committee to ensure its success.
Director of Services, Barry Kehoe, added that the council would continue to talk to the local Chamber of Commerce with a view to a “joint venture” arrangement for the appointment of an Events and Festival Officer for the district.
The written response from the council to Cllr O’Rourke’s motion stated: "The District will support community and voluntary efforts associated with the ‘Feile na Sionainne’ festival within resources available.”