MAD WEEKEND FOR ARDS CCE AT ALL IRELAND FLEADH! What a weekend it has been for Ards CCE at the All Ireland Fleadh in Derry! Word had definitely spread about Ards CCE’s award winning show as over 500 spectators had gathered at the main gig rig in Victoria Market to watch their dazzling display of music and dance. The show was so popular with the audience that the organisers of the festival pleaded with Ards to do an additional performance at the small stage at Ebrington Barracks. Unfortunately, Ards CCE had to decline the offer as they had already been invited to perform, as special guests, at The Central Bar and The Exchange Restaurant. However, all was not lost as the organisers took our details for any future TV slots that may arise at upcoming fleadh events. Both venues proved to be enormous successes with all onlookers totally enthralled by our young musicians and dancers. Free food and drink were also provided at the venues, which was an extremely nice touch and evidence of just how valued our young performers were with everyone. Ards CCE were also delighted to welcome Ryanne Sands, a relative of the legendary Sands Family Band, into our company. Many thanks Ryanne for your exquisite singing and the best of luck for your trip to Spain....Hope you enjoyed the session with Ards CCE! Saturday was a particularly busy day of competitions for our musicians, namely Michael Gaffney, Aoife McGinn, Shane McLaughlin and Davy Lennon. All of them performed amazingly and did Ards CCE proud with Davy Lennon taking 3rd in the Senior Newly Composed tune category. This is the first All Ireland senior medal to come back to Ards since 2007 and his name joins 5 others over the 40 years of Ards CCE’s existence, even without a voice! Davey’s success can only be an inspiration for our young / old musicians to follow suit and admire his undying enthusiasm for Irish trad. Special thanks also to Eamon Murray, master bodhran player, for his support and help with Shane McLaughlin and Bronagh at the U12 Bodhran competition....Ards CCE really appreciated it. Saturday night, due to popular demand, was another late night session in The Central Bar, where all our musicians had reserved seats and received free food and drink all night! The entertainment was mighty and the audience were ecstatic when all our young musicians performed standing up on their chairs, even John Toal from BBC Radio Ulster looked on in admiration....thanks for the song John! Sunday was to be another busy afternoon of session music for our young musicians in The Monico Bar, where once again free food and drink was provided....absolutely phenomenal! The people of Derry just loved Ards CCE, so much so, we were personally requested to perform at The Ramada Hotel (again free drinks and food!) later that Sunday evening and what an incredible night it was to be. Little did we know that as we performed to an extremely receptive audience we were being observed by the legendary American fiddle player Liz Carroll! Liz was so blown away with our musicianship that she approached Niall McClean and asked if she could join in our session...it was totally surreal. On top of all that she then requested a personal recording of Colleen McCleery and the group playing “Far from Home” for her friend, and composer of the song, Joanie Madden (world famous American Whistle player)...it just couldn’t get any better!! Liz was such a lovely lady and spoke to all the kids individually, discussing the possibility of them performing in Chicago....what a contact to have! Alas, it all had to come to an end but what a mad and enjoyable weekend it was. Massive thanks to Shay Sheerin and his mum Collette for accommodating Ards CCE, it was like a home from home....Hope you’re feeling better Shay! Next stop is the Liverpool Irish Festival and then of course our Christmas studio performance at The Grand Opera House....it’s all happening at Ards CCE!
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 22:20:56 +0000
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