Fiddler’s Green 2011: ’20’

The fantastic Fiddler’s Green Festival opened yesterday to blistering sunshine and super music – much of it free.  

At the Open Stage in The Square, Christy McGuigan of Warrenpoint introduced other local acts (Gerry Farrell, Deirdre Rodgers and Matt McGinn, the exceptional Ben Reel) and international singer Svend Erik Larsen. My grand-daughter Naomi won a silver salver at the Treasure Hunt and we relaxed – from midday to midnight – amongst wonderful friends.

At the evening’s concert in St Bronagh’s, we enjoyed the company of the lovely Jenny. The event was 20 Singers, 20 Songs. In true Irish fashion, that amounted to 23 Singers and even more songs, all exceptionally good … plus Alfie’s compere craic and jokes, for good measure.

I do not have sufficient words of praise to heap on Matthew McGrath and Alfie Corr for their efforts, both in organising this terrific event, and indeed for their own peerless performances. Two of Alfie’s talented daughters were among the elect. James Curran, our regular Tuesday night entertainer closed the show to universal acclaim and joyous laughter.

All performers were so talented, that it would be invidious of me to single any out. 

Still … fools rush in !!!

Rosemary Brennan sang her new composition about Rostrevor and once again reduced me to shedding a quiet tear at the excellence both of the composition and the rendition.

The great news is that, with her beautiful sister Liz and brother James and members of the extended family, she has recorded an album of songs, some of them her own.

 

I can scarcely wait until Thursday, when the Brennan family play An Cuan at 6.00 pm and the new album will be on sale. 

I will review it (with unparalleled bias) here, as soon as possible!

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