The Mid Atlantic Region of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will hold their annual Fleadh Cheoil over two days - Saturday, June 4, 2005 and Sunday, June 5, 2005 in Pearl River, NY, USA. This is one of two qualifying fleadhanna cheoil in North America, the winners of which are entitled to compete at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the All-Ireland Fleadh, which will be held in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland - 26 to 28 August, 2005.
It is not too late to sign up – walk-ins on competition day are welcome, so if you are interested in competing, please do not hesitate. Just leave at least an extra 30 minutes before your competition to get through the registration process.
There will be a full service cafeteria on premises both days for food and refreshment, and Pearl River has a fine array of restaurants within a few blocks of the fleadh.
On Saturday afternoon and evening we will hold the duet, trio and band competitions, which feature some great music, so come and listen. Also on Saturday night, at the other end of the building we will be having a ceili featuring music by Billy McComiskey, Mike Rafferty, Dana Lynn, Felix Dolan, & Michael Fee. You could travel many miles and not hope to hear a better band.
Many visitors are staying over at the fleadh hotel Saturday night, the Holiday Inn in Orangeburg, and we have arranged with the hotel to use the (non-smoking) bar that evening for a session venue, so bring your instruments and join us there as well.
You can visit the fleadh website at http://www.nyfleadh.com for more information.
I hope all of you who are in the area that weekend will come to Pearl River to the fleadh.
All the best,
Tom