Scottish Fleadh comes to East Renfrewshire

THE annual Scottish Fleadh—the festival of Irish music and culture—will this year take place in Woodfarm High School, East Renfrewshire over the weekend of April 26 and 27.

The fleadh will see young—and some not so young—musicians from under nine years of age from the six Scottish branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann compete for the honour of representing the Scottish Region at the All-Britain Fleadh being held in Coventry in June and, if successful there, representing the Province of Britain at the renowned Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to be held in Wexford from August 3-10.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the principal Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of music, song, dance, and the language of Ireland. It was founded in Mullingar, County Westmeath in 1951 and now has 450 branches in 22 countries over five continents, including 24 in Britain. It has three million members worldwide.

In Scotland, interest in the playing of traditional Irish music—particularly amongst young people—has been growing of late as evidenced by the growth in branch membership and the recent forming of Comhaltas branches in Ayr and Edinburgh joining those already established in Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

This year’s Scottish Fleadh is being organised by the St James the Great branch, which was formed in the Pollok area of Glasgow 35 years ago and is still based there.

Two members of the branch hold the distinction of being current All-Ireland Champions. Michael Dudgeon is All-Ireland Senior Piano Accordion Champion: Dominic Smith is the All Ireland Under-12 Banjo Champion. Both Michael and Dominic will be competing in this year’s Scottish Fleadh.

The Scottish Fleadh opens in Woodfarm High School at 11am on Saturday April 26 and

continues on Sunday 27 at 10am.