Fleadhfest Promotional Video
Fleadhfest, the virtual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann comes to Sligo in August with concerts, sessions and competitions streaming online at https://www.Fleadhfest.ie. Because we’re all having a tough time with Covid, we’ve decided to bring the themes of unity and togetherness into our Fleadhfest promotional video.
Based on the traditional song ‘The Minstrel Boy’, we’ve asked guitarist Séamie O’Dowd and keyboard player Kieran Quinn to give it a new treatment. The results are amazing, giving a positive message of playing music together, and reaching out to each other in these tough times through music.
We hope you enjoy it, and remember to share this video with your friends and to return to Fleadhfest online between August 1st – 9th 2021 for music with Dervish, Téada, Mairtín O’Connor Trio, Moxie, the Knocknashee Céilí Band, and many others, all FREE TO AIR!
Video Performers: Seamie O’Dowd – vocal and guitar Niamh Farrell – vocal Oisín Mac Diarmada – fiddle Joss Kelly – button accordion Lorraine Sweeney – flute Kieran Quinn – keyboard Produced and Directed by Micheál Ó Domhnaill of Omedia, filmed by Peter Martin and with assistance from Ollie White, on location at The Model in Sligo. Additional footage by Ciarán Carty, courtesy of Sligo Tourism.
Song Title: Music’s Harmonies Lyrics by Séamie O’Dowd • traditional arrangement by Kieran Quinn & Séamie O’Dowd Based on ‘The Minstrel Boy’ by Thomas Moore in memory of those killed in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
MUSIC’S HARMONIES (a song in the time of Covid)
For those among us and those who’ve gone.
As the ocean soothes our sorrow.
Let music’s harmonies be full of joy
As they call us toward tomorrow
Let reel and hornpipe, dance and song.
Minstrel boys and girls play long
All through the night into the dawn.
Their music, song and dance eternal.
The tide at the foot of Knocknarea
Marks time receding and advancing.
Like the soaring seagull’s morning song
And the night lights flickering and dancing.
Beart gan laigheas, foighid is fear í
Cé go mbeidhmid saor go luadh.
And we’ll drink to the minstrel boys and girls
And their music, song and dance eternal.
Though the trials of the age keep us apart
And the road seems long and fearful.
We’ll come together at the crossroads with
Our songs to the laughing and the tearful.
Beart gan laigheas, foighid is fear í
Cé go mbeidhmid saor go luadh.
And we’ll drink to the minstrel boys and girls
And their music, song and dance eternal.
