Report On Guinness Féile na nDéise 2002

The Seventh Feile na nDeise, held last weekend in glorious sunshine in Grattan Square and the streets of Dungarvan, once more proved a resounding success, with accommodation, shops and particularly pubs, reporting very good business over the three days.

More importantly, it brought to town many of the best traditional musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers and no one could have been at a loss for the very best of Irish entertainment over the holiday weekend.

The crowds were out in force with several thousand again thronging the Square and streets for the feast of Sunday entertainment, the centre-piece of which was the Viking Invasion by a group of about fifty from Irish History Live under the direction of Michael Moylan. The earlier than advertised start took many by surprise, but having repeated their re-enactment of the battle for the benefit of those who had not seen the first run and fought their way back to the Quay, most of the huge turnout were happy with what they had seen.

Cathaoirleach of the Feile, Áine O’Riordan said she was very pleased with the public reaction to the Festival. She said that the numbers were far bigger this year than ever before, due in part to the excellent weather, but more so because the reputation of the festival is growing with each passing year and word is spreading of the quality of the entertainment on offer.

“We have had many nationalities call to the office this year,” she said, “including several parties from as far away as New Zealand. The Committee has worked very hard to build up our programme,” she added, “and I think we have been able to satisfy just about every taste in some venue over the four days.”

An additional and very impressive feature this year was the presence of the Guinness Gig Rig, a full portable and professional stage, on which the public entertainment took place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

While the very popular traditional music festival was not without its hitches, there was general agreement that the hard-working committee had again delivered for the town, for traditional culture and had more than adequately discharged their obligations to the public.

Official Opening
Murphy's Marbles on the Rig ...“People who know the sea say that every seventh wave is the big one,” said Micheál O’Muircheartaigh on Friday night in the Buttery Bar of Lawlors Hotel, during the Official Opening of the Féile. “If that is the case, then the biggest wave that is ever to hit Dungarvan will do so this weekend.”

Looking down the road, he said that he hoped he would one day be talking about Waterford winning a hurling All Ireland, even by one point. “That would be a real Feile na nDeise,” he concluded to the delight of everyone present.

The attendance included The Mayor of Dungarvan, Cllr. Teresa Wright and Mayor of County Waterford, Cllr. Oliver Wilkinson who both congratulated the Committee on their excellent work and wished the Seventh Feile every success.

Cathaoirleach, Aine O’Riordan said that It was the ambition of the founding Committee seven years ago to start big. She said that they had and that the festival had grown with each year to the point when they could truthfully claim to be a true national festival.

“The addresses of our musicians; the accents of the people in the streets and the letters of thanks and congratulations each year, all provide evidence of that,” she said. “We are pleased that we have fulfilled our promises to provide the best of entertainment against an Irish cultural background.”

Street Entertainment
All the murphys lost their marbles ... The street entertainment commenced on Saturday with an excellent display of music, song and dance courtesy of the young performers of Comahaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Craobh na gComaraigh. They set a very high standard for their adult counterparts to follow and delighted the crowds who remained through the course of the afternoon, relaxing in the brilliant sunshine.

They were joined by Jimmy Morrisson’s group from Fermoy, as well as groups led by Gearoid O’Leary and Peter O’Connor.

On Sunday afternoon, there was a veritable feast of entertainment, with a succession of top class performers exhibiting their talents from the Gig Rig. Some of the cream of local performers were joined by musicians and dancers from as far away as Luton, Anglesea in Wales, Newcastle, Co. Down, Wexford, Sligo and all parts between.

Local dancers Ciara Dunne and Amy Morrissey were joined by the girls of the Michael Ryan School of Dancing, Brush Dancers Ger and Colin Butler as well as a selection of the best of local musicians including Nicky Power, Tom Murphy, Paddy Tutty, Tony Dunne, with visitors Micheál O'Hallorán and Katy Theasby Also performing during the afternoon were Mary Molloy and her group as well as veteran traditional group Shaskeen, Murphy’s Marbles, Martin Gavin’s Group from Galway and many more.

Good Variety
Throughout the weekend, there was a variety of exhibitions and workshops running in various locations in the town, including such diverse activities as Set Dancing, fishing-fly tieing and spinning-wheel.

One of the most popular events was the story-telling competition, In My Father’s Time, held in Lawlors Hotel. The tall tales, told in traditional style were greatly appreciated by the capacity audience.

Seán Keane in Concert also drew a full and appreciative audience on Sunday night in the Park Hotel, rounding off the main part of the weekend’s programme. This year for the first time, there was entertainment on Grattan Square on Monday, with the Guinness Gig Rig again in evidence, with a full programme of entertainment during the early part of the afternoon.

Already arrangements have started for the coming year, commencing with a full review of last weekend to see what additional or better arrangements can be made. Féile na nDéise continues to thrive and grow and is now an unmissable part of the Summer festivities for all who have an interest in Irish cultural affairs.