Post by Ptarmigan on Jun 2, 2008 16:06:30 GMT
I have often heard local musicians complaining about the Fleadh venues.
As you will know, the Antrim Fleadh moves each year, so one year it'll be in Portglenone, then it'll be in Dunloy, Cushendall or Ballycastle.
So, just like the All Ireland Fleadh, everyone will have their favourite town for the job.
Anyway, just recently, I heard this year's Antrim Fleadh, which was held in Cushendall, being called "Fleadh Johnny Joe's"! ;D
The person who used this phrase was complaining about the fact that there is only ONE Session Pub in the town, which of course doesn't make for the usual Fleadh atmosphere, where you usually find the streets full of musicians moving from one session pub to another, looking for the best session.
So, if this is the deciding factor, when it comes to judging which are the better towns for a Fleadh to be held, then the top two towns in Antrim must be Ballycastle then Portglenone. So that being the case, why don't the organisers simply bounce the annual Fleadh back & forward between these two good venues?
It is clear that Cushendall, Dunloy & Rasharkin are not good venues with only ONE good session pub each, so why oh why do they insist on using these poor venues?.
In fact, the last time I attended a Fleadh in Dunloy, you couldn't even have a Session in Dunloy's pub, & had to travel a few miles outside town for a few tunes!
Do you have a view on this?
Cheers
Ptarmigan