*All-Ireland winners Eibhear Quilligan, Con Smyth and Adam Hogan with Kamen Madden and Kathleen Madden.
EAST CLARE’s musical icon, Martin Hayes was honoured as the Feakle Festival kicked off.
Feakle was a hive of traditional music from Wednesday to Monday as the thirty seventh Feakle Festival took hold.
Over the past thirty years, Martin Hayes has made rich contributions to the festival. His emotive style and technical brilliance have earned the Maghera native international acclaim. In his youth, he played alongside his father P. Joe Hayes, Joe Bane, Paddy Canny, and John Naughton.
His mark on the festival was celebrated with the opening event on Wednesday evening. A devoted supporter of the festival since its early days, Martin’s music is steeped in the rich traditions of East Clare and has resonated across the globe, showcasing our local heritage to the world. He has missed at most two festivals of the thirty seven that have been held.
Martin has not only graced the stage of the Feakle Festival with captivating performances but also shared his expertise as a tutor, inspiring new generations of musicians.
Other musicians to perform during the course of the Feakle Festival were Eileen O’Brien, Sorcha Costelloe, Mary MacNamara, Brian Donnellan, Danny O’Mahony, Geraldine McNamara, Gearóid McNamara, Paraic McDonnchadha, Terrance O’Reilly, Suzanne Leahy and Cáit Ní Ríaín.
On Sunday, the late Brían O’Rourke was remembered in song. Brían was a beloved known for his humorous, witty, and poignant songs. He had a deep passion for the Feakle Festival, where he often shared his vibrant compositions. Brían was renowned across Ireland and beyond for his invaluable contributions to the preservation of traditional song and his exceptional songwriting talents within that genre.
He was also an accomplished poet, and in 1992, he published a booklet titled When I Grow Up, described on its cover as containing ‘jocoserious songs unaccompanied’. This special session will bring together family, friends, and admirers to honour his memory through song. Hosted by Fear an Tí Con “Fada” Ó Drisceoil and he was joined by fellow singers Peter Casey, Mick Scanlan and Seán Mone.
A special guest in the guise of the Liam MacCarthy lifted the already high spirits. Clare trio Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan and Con Smyth from Feakle were happy to pose for photographs and lend their singing talents when assisting on a rendition of ‘My Lovely Rose of Clare’.
Secretary of the Feakle Festival, Aoife Hayes said of its growth, “It is getting stronger and stronger each year”. She added, “You meet people from all over the world each year and it amazes me. It is crazy how the small village of Feakle can attract people to it”.
All photographs by Ruth Griffin.
