Events

From 26-29 April 2019, Kilfenora staged its 11th annual traditional music festival, a series that commenced in 2009 with the 100th anniversary of the Kilfenora Céilí Band.  With great concerts, céilís, some cracking CD launches and pub sessions, it was a great line-up.

Sessions in Kilfenora’s pubs occured from Friday to Monday, with the cream of musicians from Clare and beyond.

The Singers’ night on Friday evening (Linnanes pub) gathered together some of the finest and most humorous singers and storytellers, hosted by Noirin Lynch.

Our main concert (Saturday, Kilfenora Hall, 7.00pm) featured Ireland’s top fiddle maestro, Frankie Gavin, and his celebrated Roaring 20s Irish Orchestra. The concert was opened by this year’s winner of an award from the Meitheal Summer School to play at the Kilfenora Trad Festival – Naoise Kettle. See more details here.

On Friday evening, Kilfenora Comhaltas also featured an array of talent, young and old, at a Variety Concert in Kilfenora Hall.

Saturday afternoon included 2 special free events. First, at 1pm a ‘Riches of Clare’ event with some of North Clare’s talented musicians (James & Carol Cullinan, Seanie Vaughan, Noel O’Donoghue). Then, at 2.30pm a tribute to the late Tommy Peoples – who was a former member of Kilfenora Ceili Band – hosted by his daughter Siobhan, including a fiddle session (Linnanes Pub).

There were céilís on Saturday night with The Star of Munster Céilí Band (Vaughans Barn, 9.30pm) and on Sunday with the Four Courts Céilí Band (Vaughans Barn, 9.00pm).

There were several CD launches at various times over the weekend  – Josephine Marsh (Music in the Frame); Stevie Dunne (Live at the Crosskeys); Peter Casey (Out in the Day).

A Trad for Teens workshop took place on Sunday (c.11.00) in Kilfenora Hall, following a mass with traditional music at St Fachanans Church. And, as in previous years, on Sunday afternoon (3pm), the big event was the great Kilfenora Céilí Band playing for a free céilí in the Square – dancers and spectators welcome. (Their brand new CD “Both Sides Now” was available for sale.) They were preceded at 2.00 pm by the current young Kilfenora Comhaltas Céilí Band.

Check www.kilfenoraclare.com and Kilfenora festival Facebook page for further information about the festival and all the artists appearing.

Visitors to Kilfenora were able to see the much-praised Kilfenora Céilí Band Parlour exhibition space in the Burren Centre, opened formally by Irish President Michael D Higgins in March 2015. This one of very few permanent museums in the world dedicated to a living musical performer or group. It also features the plaque received from the Guinness Book of World Records marking Kilfenora’s achievement in creating the largest traditional Irish Folk Band (at our 2014 festival).

A great day was had by all on St Patrick’s Day in Kilfenora. After Mass, the highlight as always was the parade up Main Street, through the Square and back to Vaughans Yard. ‘Big Tom’ was the prize winner; ‘Children of Lir’ and ‘Big Week on the Farm’ came 2nd & 3rd. Well done to all!

Meanwhile musicians gathered at Kitty Linnane’s graveside in the Cathedral to pay tribute to the long-time leader of the Kilfenora Céilí Band, after which the music moved to Linnanes Pub which hosted a 12 hour session with a procession of great musicians dropping by. And the fun continued in all the pubs til late.

On behalf of The Kilfenora Senior Citizens group, Comhar Conradh na Boirne Teo hosted a reception on Friday February 5th at The Burren Centre, Kilfenora to acknowledge the efforts of all who participated in helping to achieve a Guinness Book World Record.

On 27 April 2014, during the annual Kilfenora Traditional Music festival, the largest Irish Folk Music Band to date was gathered together, comprising 267 musicians, and led by The Kilfenora Céilí Band. The ensemble played a rousing version of three well-known ‘Kilfenora Jigs’. The certificate recording this achievement was received from the Guinness Book organisation in late 2015.

At the reception there were brief speeches from Annie McMahon (Chair of the Burren Centre), Micheal O’Riabhaigh (Chair of the Clare Comhaltas Fleadh 2016 Committee), John Lynch (Kilfenora Céilí Band leader) and Frances Connole (Burren Centre Manager, who also project managed the Guinness bid). These variously thanked those who contributed to the achievement of the award, celebrated the vigorous health of traditional music in North Clare, and looked forward to the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and the challenges for Ennis and all Clare in entertaining over 400,000 visitors.

John Lynch presented the Guinness certificate to Frances Connole – it will now be hung in The Kilfenora Céilí Band Parlour, an exhibition space in the Burren Centre opened by Irish President Michael D Higgins in March 2015. A copy of the certificate was also given to Gerard Linnane, Chairman of The Kilfenora Senior Citizens group.

The attendees were then entertained over refreshments by some famous Kilfenora tunes played by a group of North Clare’s most distinguished musicians – Chris Droney, Michael Kelleher, Michael Butler, JJ Conway, James Devitt and John Lynch, who had all played in the Kilfenora band – together with Katy Theasby (whose father Paul played with the band), Andy Lambert (KCB Parlour designer) and Emma Kelly (whose great-grandfather Jim Mulqueeny was a band member from the 1920s-50s).

A video taken on that day in 2014 by band photographer Key Hideki Nakao can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf3AYzXE-C0 This video may also be seen, along with many other exhibits and videos, in The Kilfenora Céilí Band Parlour. The photos below are courtesy of Elwood Lynch and Andy Lambert.

On Friday 20 March 2015, President Michael D. Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins visited Kilfenora to open formally the Kilfenora Céilí Band Parlour – a permanent multi-media exhibition located in The Burren Centre that tells the story of North Clare music and its internationally famous traditional music band (106 years old and counting!)

This was the last fixture of a long day of visiting County Clare locations, starting with his old school St. Flannan’s. Nonetheless the Uachtarán na hÉireann and his wife gave generously of their time, meeting and chatting with Kilfenora locals and posing for innumerable photographs.

As the Presidential couple entered the Burren Centre they were greeted by a mighty blast of tunes from Kilfenora Céilí Band musicians past and present – including Ita Foley (née Mulqueeney) and Frank O’Mahony from the 1950s band, TG4 Lifetime Achievement (Gradam Ceoil) winner Chris Droney, and Michael Kelleher, Peter Griffin, Michael Butler and PJ Murrihy who played with the band over many decades.

Bandleader John Lynch gave the President and Mrs. Higgins a copy of the band’s new CD “Now is the Hour”, and then guided them around the exhibition, where they also met members of the Burren Centre committee.

After an introductory speech by Johnny Keane, the President then addressed an audience of Kilfenora locals in Irish and English – paying tribute to Brian Mooney who was instrumental in creating the Burren Center in 1975 and ending with rousing praise for the exhibition and for the contribution of the Kilfenora Céilí Band to Irish culture.

Following brief contributions from Burren Centre manager Frances Connole and MC John Morgan, Marion Kelly presented the Uachtarán na hÉireann with a sculpture created by exhibition contributor Bill Rothwell that reflected Kilfenora, its music and the Burren – and John Lynch presented Mrs Higgins with a bouquet of flowers.

After that the President and his wife mingled with the crowd over some food and drink, before finally departing for Dublin.

Thanks are owed to all the Kilfenora residents who worked so hard to facilitate arrangements for the presidential visit, starting with the Burren Centre staff and committee, and also exhibition designer Andy Lambert and photography contributors Liam Hogan and Key Hideki-Nakao who provided further photography and video services on the day. A selection of photographs may be viewed here.

On Sunday 27 April 2014 a huge crowd of musicians and onlookers assembled in Kilfenora Square in a successful attempt to create the largest Irish traditional céilí band ever.

270 players of all ages – and a multitude of instruments and nationalities – played the celebrated ‘Kilfenora Jig set’. Guinness asked for 250 musicians to create the entry.

They were led by the world-famous Kilfenora Céilí Band (in its 105th year). Banjo player and RTE broadcaster Kieran Hanrahan joined the band and made the announcements. Many well-known musicians participated in the attempt, among them this year’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil Lifetime Achievement award winner, Chris Droney.

Donations were collected for Irish Cancer Society and the Kilfenora Senior Citizens support fund.

A great party atmosphere was created, amidst the serious business of ensuring that all the administrative necessities for the Guinness records book were complied with, with the help of lots of local volunteers.