Shannon Airport has put its support behind ensuring that Ennis and Co Clare gives Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann its greatest ever send-off when it completes its two-year run in the Banner County in August.
Co Clare’s best known musician, Sharon Shannon, was on hand at the Airport for the official announcement of its sponsorship and gave four-year-old twins Lillian and Colin McCullough from Kilnaboy an impromptu reminder of the sounds that will wrap themselves around Ennis and Clare from 13th – 21st August.
Matthew Thomas, Chief Executive, Shannon Group, which operates Shannon Airport, said that this year’s event will be a party to remember: “The Fleadh was a huge success last year and showed just why Clare is considered by many to be the home of traditional Irish music. We were incredibly proud to be associated with the Fleadh last year. The atmosphere around the town was electric, the sense of hospitality was incredible, and at the end of it all Ennis and Co Clare got a huge economic injection.
“Based on that experience and the determination by the organisers this year to raise the bar even higher, we are already really looking forward to August. I have no doubt that everyone will be looking back saying that Ennis really was a special host-town.”
Andrew Murphy, Shannon Airport’s Managing Director, who was joined at the airport for the official announcement by Frank Whelan, Chairman of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Inis 2017 Executive Committee, added: “Ennis and Co Clare proved to be the perfect host for the Fleadh last year. It was the greatest single celebration in the county of music, song and dance, which are the essence of Clare culture. We are delighted to get onboard and even more so this year as we are expecting the curtain to come down on the two years here in spectacular style.”
Up to 400,000 people, including 80,000 from abroad and many coming through Shannon Airport, will gather for this year’s Fleadh.
Sharon Shannon, whose performance in the ‘Shannon Aerodrome’ at the Fleadh in Ennis on Saturday night, 19th August, will be one of the many highlights of the week-long celebration, said that there is already a great sense of excitement building ahead of this year’s Fleadh.
“There was an incredible buzz all over the world last year about the Fleadh in Ennis. I met so many people who were blown away by the hospitality and the atmosphere around the town. Ennis has got great character, with the mix of narrow streets and open areas, and is tailor-made for the Fleadh. People are already gearing up for another amazing treat of nine days and nights of music, dancing, singing and craic at the Fleadh here in Ennis once again. I am really looking forward to it.”
Frank Whelan, Chairman of the Fleadh Executive Committee, said: “We are especially pleased that Shannon Group has come back onboard for 2017 with significant and vital sponsorship for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2017.
“Sponsorship is the life-blood of an event of this scale. It would be impossible for us to host an All-Ireland to the standards we aspire to without it and we are deeply indebted to Shannon Group for such a strong vote of confidence in Comhaltas as a cultural organisation, in ourselves as the Fleadh Organising Committee and in the town of Ennis and Co Clare. We are proud of Shannon Airport and its role in aviation, heritage and commercial business and we are delighted to be partnered with them through this sponsorship.”
