Fleadh Cheoil Series on RTÉ One - Friday 19th January 2018 at 7.30pm

Fleadh Cheoil is a series of six television programmes from the Ennis Fleadh Cheoil presented by John Creedon and Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin starting on Friday 19th January 2018 at 7.30pm. The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann returned to Ennis Co. Clare for the second year in a row. Ennis, for many the spiritual home of Traditional Music had not previously staged the Fleadh since 1977. The annual Comhaltas festival which was first held in 1951 has grown into one of the biggest music gatherings in the world. Now a weeklong event it includes concerts, competitions and many pub sessions as well as the usual plentiful supply of great street entertainment. The series will showcase a host of musicians and singers who attended the Fleadh including Tom Doorley, Gerry O’Connor, Oisín MacDiarmada, Damien Mullane, Liam O’Brien, Derek Hickey, Therese McInerney, Claire Egan, Brian Hughes, Eoin O’Neill, Bryan O’Leary, Dave Sheridan, Edel Vaughan, Michael Blackie O’Connell, Siobhan Peoples, Cyril O’Donoghue as well as Ard Ollamh for 2017 Padraig Donlon. Among the groups featured are Dúchas, Bygone Lane, Fisher Street, D’Bize and The Shandrum Ceili Band along with the Mooney and the Nesbitt families. The programmes will also include a visit to Scoil Éigse, the Scoil Éigse Tutors Concert and competitions including the Under 18 Duet Competition and The Senior Céilí Band Competition.