Irish American News Online

Traditional Irish musicians from the Midwest and beyond brought the spirit of an Irish village to Forest Park, Illinois over June 25-27, 2010.  The occasion was the Midwest Fleadh, hosted by the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club (Burr Ridge, Illinois).  Along a main street in Forest Park, fifteen local businesses (pubs, restaurants, ice ecream shops) and a local church generously opened their doors to competitors and enthusiastic audiences.  Over the weekend, numerous soloists, duets, trios, ensembles and bands performed to qualify for the 2010 All-Ireland competition in Cavan, Ireland.  After the fleadh, Gary Lynch, a member of the board for Comhaltas (the international Irish music and culture association) wrote to the Murphy Roche Club, "The fleadh itself was a great success and is a testament to the hard work put in by yourselves.  Your idea of replicating a fleadh in Ireland was inspired and on the day it very much achieved."
Pictures Here! Photo credits:  Thomas Regan
Fleadh co-chairs were Kell and Mike Chole.  Kell noted that "Competitors spanned all generations with shared enthusiasm for traditional Irish music."  Mike added, "Besides hoping to earn a first or second place, competitors enjoyed the village setting with its opportunity for bringing traditional Irish music to wider audiences."  The Murphy Roche Club has been selected by the North American Province of Comhaltas  to host the Midwest Fleadh again in 2011.

Founded in 1997, the Murphy Roche Irish Music Club  (Burr Ridge, Illinois) is a non-profit organization for people of all ages and musical skill levels who perform, want to learn, or just enjoy Irish traditional music.  (630 212-7679 or www.murphyroche.org).  The club is affiliated with the international organization of Irish Musicians, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (pronounced "kol-tus kyol- tori air-in").

By Joe Martin
Murphy Roche Irish Music Club