World famous singer Anthony Kearns to open Fleadh – ‘It's great to be able to stand up in front of your own people and fly the flag for Wexford'
From Kiltealy, known as 'the most sign posted village in the county' he laughs, he first performed at the Fleadh decades ago. 'It's funny now. A friend of mine, Ed Rowsome dug up some information and found that I performed in the 1980 Fleadh in Sligo as an U'18. The trad was what we were reared on.'
The Fleadh is a lot of things, and it can be different things to people. It will be an unprecedented tourism opportunity, invaluable to businesses across the county, but at its core is music. For boys and girls and men and women who have put in countless hours of practise to master their trade, this is their All – Ireland Final.
'People shouldn't underestimate that, it is about the competition. It's an All – Ireland, from every parish and county. It's very competitive, and it hasn't changed. The kids today are just phenomenal… It's like being in the field, throw in the ball and blow the whistle.'
The singer owns Rackard's pub in Killane. Yes, the same place where John Kelly, 'the boy' was from, immortalised in the Patrick Joseph McCall song made famous by The Dubliners and he is struck by the crowds that come out for trad sessions.
'We had 27 or 28 musicians at the last trad session in the lounge. You can spot young talent coming through. There is one chap in particular from Wexford who is just off the charts as a bodhran player. And if he doesn't make a career in this profession, I'll eat my hat.'
John's love and pride for Wexford isn't artificial or a matter of convenience. It runs deep. In 2013, he joined his friend Michael Londra and 'half of Wexford', alongside the good and the great at Arlington Cemetery to mark five decades since President Kennedy's death. But unsurprisingly, the last Sunday in September in 1996 was pretty unforgettable for him.
'I didn't think we'd be waiting so long for our next All – Ireland, but that day was special. I came up from Kerry, I was singing at a friend's wedding. I got to Heuston Station and I couldn't get across the city. I was sitting in a Taxi going nowhere.
'I called a friend of mine, Jim who worked in The Plough bar on Abbey Street. Jim called John McCarthy, a former Dublin footballer and Garda who came over on a motorbike and escorted me out of the traffic and brought me to the gates of Croke Park.
'There, I entered with Michael O'Hehir, who was in a wheelchair at the time and went straight onto the pitch to rehearse with the Artane Boys Band. I still have my ticket with the stub attached because I was rushed in so quickly…. And the celebrations. Sure I suppose we're still celebrating.'
By opening this year's Fleadh, Anthony will join President Michael D Higgins on stage. He knows what it means.
'It's wonderful to be back on home soil. I'm singing one song for them and of course that is Boolavogue. Eithne Corrigan is going to be accompanying me on piano, she's well known in the Wexford music scene. It's great to be able to stand up in front of your own people and fly the flag for Wexford. It's a full circle moment.'
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