Fleadh Nua Ennis

We are spending some time at the Music festival in Ennis, Fleadh Nua... Brian Prior is heading up the festivities, they had me up on their main stage for the Noon concert in the center of town. Great fun sessions everywhere, I met Dr Mick Maloney, famous Irish Folklore professor, and friend, he invited mom to attend his special show tonight while I played in town. You may have seen him on TV, he is a regular in every Irish History PBS special. His tour is staying in our hotel.

A trip to Ennis has to include the Franciscan Friary and abbey, this is a highlight of down town Ennis. The whole town is full of music, and I surprisingly know quite a few people, I got an introduction before the concert , Brian still thought I was in Atlanta, but having come the farthest got an applause from the crowd when introduced anyway... A note to those viewing if you click on the pictures they will load up bigger and you can get a better look. Mom went to the story telling session,

Tomorrow is a gaelic mass in the cathedral, and after is the Clare vs Cork Hurling regional championship, Hurling is a 3000 + year old Irish sport that looks like field hockey, rugby and a bar fight all at once. Great fun I played in my youth (40) and did well Atlanta's team won the Junior North American Championship. I couldn't walk after wards.... and certainly didnt atempt another year, Wish I had discovered it in my 20's .... My Irish born friends decided I was Irish only after I came off the field with blood running down my arm and leg... Brilliant fun..If I cant get to the actual game, we will sit in a pub, and watch, Ennis is the capitol of Clare so the crowd should be as much fun as the game....