It is all systems go as the Leinster Fleadh is taking place in Portlaoise this weekend.
Originally scheduled to be held in Swords, in Dublin, it fell to CCÉ Phortlaoise to arrange and host this massive undertaking at short notice.
But arrange it they did and boy it’s shaping up to be a cracker.
The weather forecast is for a fine, dry and warm weekend which will suit perfectly for the Street Festival planned for everyone to enjoy on Saturday and Sunday.
There’s an artisan food and crafts market along with amusements and entertainment for kids all along the Main Street.
And there’s two stages, one in the Market Square and the second in the Lower Square where the best of Irish music, singing and dancing will be on display.
Cua, who’re not long back from a 15 date sellout tour in the UK, will be entertaining all of your family and friends on Saturday afternoon from 12:30 just after the dancers from the Gabriel Lynam school has finished their display.
Later there’ll be the talented Molly Donnery and friends, before the evening closes with mighty seisiún by Alan Reid, Conal O’Kane, Brendan McCarthy and Aisling Byrne.
On Sunday, the dancers from the Buggie School of Irish Dancing will start the day on the Lower Square stage before Abbeyfolk take the street by storm from 2pm to 4pm.
On both days there will also be the poball Gaeilge, the Irish tent, where some local and well known people will be speaking a little bit in Irish and playing a few tunes, and telling a story or two, bringing the Irish Language to life in a fun and easy way.
With many other well known musicians and winners from the competitions over the two days playing on the top and lower square stages you’ll be spoilt for choice.
On the competition front there will actually be more competitions running over the weekend than in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, in Mullingar in August.
If you wish to attend the competitions and watch as the very best musicians in Leinster battle it out for glory, wristbands are for sale at all the venues which cover entry to every competition either daily of for the weekend.
Not to be outdone the vintners of Portlaoise have come on board and helped to arrange a seisiún trail for the weekend with some of the finest of musicians from all over the country coming along to play together.
Open to all to attend, the hardest thing will be deciding which seisiún to go to.
There’s free parking provided at the LOETB Laois GAA Centre of Excellence beside O’Moore Park, and a free shuttle bus stopping at all the venues all day.
So parking and traffic issues with be non existent.
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