FleadhTV has announced its return to the screens of TG4 this summer.
The winner of Best Live Event at the 2015 IFTA’s will broadcast live from 8.30pm to 11.30pm over four nights from Thursday August 18th to Sunday August 21st 2016 on TG4 as well as live on tg4.tv and fleadhcheoil.ie. This year Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from Ennis looks set to be one of the most exciting yet. Presenters Lynette Fay and Cathy Jordan will be joined by two new hosts this year. TG4’s own Mairéad Ni Chuaig and popular local Clare musician Tóla Custy.
2016’s series will see the addition to the show of a mobile camera crew who will be in a different Clare town each night – Bunratty Folk Village, Tulla, Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay.
The main FleadhTV Festival site will be based on the grounds of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis where a live audience of 1,500 people can enjoy all the show taking place right in front of their eyes. A total of 1.1 million people tuned into watch the series in 2015 broadcast in Sligo.
Lynette and Cathy are back again this year and have two new presenters joining them. Mairéad Ni Chuaig is a familiar face to TG4 viewers already. Speaking at the announcement, Mairead revealed that she is really excited to be broadcasting from Ennis “I’ve grown up attending Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and it’s a beautiful celebration of our rich and vibrant cultural traditions. Tá mé ag súil go mór le hInis. I’m over the moon to be a part of the FleadhTV team 2016 given this remarkable year with the celebration of the Centenary & TG4’s 20th anniversary.
Joining Mairéad will be Toonagh musician Tóla Custy. On joining the FleadhTV team, Tóla said, “I will try to bring what I see going on all the time in County Clare, to a world audience, in a natural way on FleadhTV. I’m really excited to show you why this is a stunning place to live both socially and musically. I want to how beautiful, normal and interesting this place really is.”
Commissioning Editor for TG4, Proinsias Ní Ghrainne highlighted how central a role the Fleadh plays on TG4’s summer schedule. “Iscuid lárnach de chlásceideal an tSamhraidh ar TG4 é FleadhTV. Tá ríméad orainn go bhfuil snáth tábhachtach breise á fhí isteach sa gclúdach sin i mbliana againn agus muid ag taifeadadh ar fud An Chláir ar cheol agus ar cheoltóirí ar fhód a ndúchais féin, léiriú lonrach ar shaibhreas an cheoil agus ar fhuinneamh an traidisiúin ann”.
Mícheál Ó Riabhaigh, Chairman of the Fleadh Executive Committee remarked “FleadhTV is one of the most exciting and innovative developments at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in recent years. We are thrilled at the prospect of broadcasting quality music, song, dance and stories live on TV, not just to a national audience but streamed to our growing legions of followers around the world.
“The concept of Sharing Clare has been developed to ensure that the cultural and natural beauty of the entire county is showcased during Fleadh week. We really hope that the FleadhTV audience of over one million will revel in the very best of what Ennis and the rest of Clare has to offer during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Inis 2016”.
Fleadh Cheoil Inis 2016 is in association with Shannon Airport and runs from August 14th to 22nd 2016 and will see an expected 400,000 people descend on the Banner County.