Rebel pride alive and well on first competitive day of the Munster Fleadh Cheoil
Dozens of young people gathered on Oliver Plunkett Street to take part in a busking competition as part of the week-long festival of music, song, and dance.
Many wore the red and white of the Cork hurling team a week ahead of their All-Ireland clash with Tipperary next Sunday.
However, competitiveness was in the air as buskers battled it out in different sections to win the first competitions of the Fleadh.
Ger O'Driscoll, chairman of the Fleadh, with representitives of Comhaltas, Caitriona de Brúin, Tadhg Ó Maolcatha, Assunta Uí Chathasaigh and Sean Walsh at the launch of the Fleadh Cheoil Na Mumhan at Cork City Hall. Picture: Noel McSweeney
Among them were brother and sister duo Alex and Lena Kennedy, members of the Douglas branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
Alex (11) and Lena (14) joined three of their friends to form a group for the competition, securing themselves second place in the under-18 section.
Lena said: 'It is great fun being able to meet and play music with people from other branches.'
Alex said they now plan to form a band with their teammates from Saturday's busking competition.
They and their parents Lynn and Paul, and younger sister Hannah, then went along to Nano Nagle Place where a youth session took place within the walled gardens.
There too was Kinsale banjo player Callum McCarthy and his dad Donagh who went there after the busking event. Callum, who turned 12 on Friday, has been playing since last October and loves it.
Callum said: 'It was roasting, my hands were all sweaty but it was good fun.'
Ger O'Driscoll, chairperson of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, said the festival opened on Friday night, with the first full day being on Saturday.
'We had a great day, it was great seeing all the kids decked out in red and white, decked out in their Cork colours.
On Saturday night, there was a concert in An Spailpin Fanach on South Main Street by trad band Peter Street.
Mr O'Driscoll said the activities kick off properly on Monday, with workshops.
Sponsors of the Cork Fleadh, L-R Trish Murphy from the Arts Office at Cork City Council, Deirdre Weldon from Cork Credit Unions, Ger O'Driscoll chairman of the Fleadh Cheoil Na Mumhan, and Eibnhín McGrath from Cork Airport.
He added: 'There is a lovely event here in Nano Nagle Place on Tuesday on storytelling by the Lantern Project.' On Wednesday, the competitions kick off at the Munster Technological University and will run through to the weekend.
Up to 3,000 competitors will take part in dancing, music and singing competitions.
Mr O'Driscoll said: 'A lot of the hotels around the city have people staying from Munster and beyond for it. All in all, we think around 15,000 people will come for it — friends and family — to see people competing. So there is a good economic benefit to the city.'
'In the busking competition on Oliver Plunkett Street, they all enjoyed it. I have to give a shout out to Murphy's Ice Cream as they gave an ice cream to everyone who performed which, in this weather, was very much appreciated.'
President of the Cork county board of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Barry Cogan, said it was great to see so many young people playing traditional Irish music.
He continued: 'Branches that I saw starting with just a handful of people now have hundreds of people playing and it cuts across all ages, and boys and girls and men and women. So many young people want to learn, and so many adults as well.'
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