Six part series on the Fleadh Cheoil

One of the biggest and longest running free music festivals in the world, the Fleadh Cheoil, is the focus of a six-part TV series starting next Friday April 3 on RTÉ 1. From modest beginnings, when a few hundred traditional music followers attended the first Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar in 1951. This festival has grown in stature and is now comfortably at home in Tullamore. Last summer, many thousands from all over the world were back in the Midlands for the second year running and this series of six half hours programmes captures the fun, excitement and good music that happens each year at this truly international music event. With thousands of musicians in Tullamore, the Fleadh programmes feature many of the top names in traditional music as well as several talented new performers. Some to look out for are Benny McCarthy, Ciaran Somers, David Sheridan, Joe Burke, Conor McEvoy, Pick of the Litter, Nábac, The Mulcahy Family, Foster and Allen and the All Ireland Céilí Band champions, the Innisfree Céilí Band. The Fleadh Cheoil series is presented by Pat Butler and Breda Smyth and the first programme starts on RTE 1 on Friday April 3 at 7.30pm.