Tola Custy: Lights, camera, action - Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Inis

LIFE
Tue 21 June 16
Fleadh People
LIFE
Tue 21 June 16
27
27
Fleadh People
Tola Custy: Lights, camera, action
Tola Custy: Lights, camera, action
IT’S been well documented at this stage that Ennis can expect the happy invasion of up to 400,000 people for
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. And while the county town’s streets will be buzzing to the hum of a few thousand
fiddles this August, from the Temple Gate Hotel Car Park cameras, lights and two stages will be set up so that
IT’S been well documented at this stage that Ennis can expect the happy invasion of up to 400,000 people for
a global audience of more than a million people can catch the action on Fleadh TV. Stuart Holly found out more.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. And while the county town’s streets will be buzzing to the hum of a few thousand
AT the fiddles
launch of this
Fleadh
TV last week
member ofGate
Dervish,
BBCCar
Belfast
presenter
September
that’s
a lovely
thing
very, very exciting to me.”
August,
fromThe
the Temple
Hotel
Park
cameras,
lightsdays
andand
two
stages
will
betoset So
upthat’s
so that
Clare People caught up with its new present- Lynette Fay and TG4 regular Mairead Ni be involved with.”
Tola describes the grassroots trad moveglobal
audience
ofofmore
a million people can catch the action
on Fleadh
out
more.
er Tola a
Custy,
himself
a member
the fa-than
Chuaig.
“I travel
the world TV.
all theStuart
time in Holly
my mu- found
ment in
Clare
as ‘mind-blowing’, estimating
mous Clare traditional music family. Tola exWhile Mairead and Cathy will host festiv- sical life — that’s the way I try to present that as many as 2,500 children are participlains that
drawn
a roleTV
on last
Fleadh
ities from
the main
stage and
music
to peopledays
whoand
maythat’s
never
have heard
in playing
tradexciting
music toinme.”
Ennis and
AT he
thewas
launch
of to
Fleadh
week The
member
of Dervish,
BBCLynette
Belfast cappresenter
September
a lovely
thing to pating
So that’s
very, very
TV as soon
asPeople
Ennis was
announced
and
that
tures the
madness
on the
Ennis Ni
trad music
beforewith.”
and I’m attracted to things its surrounding
areas
“There
no
Clare
caught
up with its
new
presentLynette
Fay and
TG4streets
regularofMairead
be involved
Tola describes
thealone.
grassroots
tradaremove‘bold aserbrass
just said
to Paula McKay
O’Connell Monument, Tola will be like that
I think
Fleadh
in amu-statistics
thatasassociated
with estimating
any othTolaI Custy,
himself
member[the
of the from
fa- Chuaig.
“I and
travel
the world
allTV
the does
time that
in my
ment inlike
Clare
‘mind-blowing’,
show’s producer],
I canmusic
do something
traditional
strongholds
very sical
special
grassroots
the world
over,
mous Clare‘listen,
traditional
family. Tola visiting
exWhile
Mairead
and Cathyaround
will hostthe
festivlifeway.”
— that’s the way I try to presenter that
as manymovement
as 2,500 children
are particihere’.” plains that he was drawn to a role on Fleadh
countyities
— Tulla,
Miltown
Malbay,
hiswho
ownmay
rolenever
with have
Fleadh
even bluegrass,
time,in it’s
really
from the
main stage
and EnnistyLynette cap-Speaking
music toabout
people
heardnotpating
in playing not
tradold
music
Ennis
and
as soon
as Ennis was
and that
Tola’s TV
vibrant
enthusiasm
forannounced
traditional
tures
the madness
on the —
streets
of Ennis
mon and
Bunratty
Folk Village
showcastradfiddle-player
music before continues,
and I’m attracted
TV, the
“I get to things
go mind-blowing.
its surrounding
areas
“There
are no
So my
jobalone.
is easy,”
he beams.
I justwithin
said toa Paul
McKay
O’Connell
Monument,
likedifferent
that and Iareas
think around
Fleadh TV
that Iin a Speaking
statistics about
like that
anythis
othmusic in‘bold
Clareasisbrass
evident
minute
of [the
ing thefrom
best in
trad that Clare
has to Tola
offer. will be
to four
the does
county.
whatassociated
Ennis canwith
expect
producer],
‘listen,
I canthat
do something
around
special way.”
er grassroots
the world
over,
speakingshow’s
to him.
While he
reveals
this
Tola visiting
explainstraditional
that while strongholds
many viewers
tun- the
go tovery
Ennistymon,
Miltown Malbay, Bun- August,
Tola adds,movement
“It’s absolutely
amazing.
county
—TV
Tulla,
Malbay,
EnnistySpeaking
hisdoown
with Fleadh
not even
bluegrass, notplay
old with
time, six-yearit’s really
is by farhere’.”
Fleadh TV’s biggest set-up for the ing into
Fleadh
willMiltown
be hardline
trad-lovratty and
Tulla about
and I’ll
liverole
hook-ups
in You’ll
see 60-year-olds
Tola’sat vibrant
enthusiasm
Folk
Village
showcasTV, theoffiddle-player
continues,
“I get to goolds,
mind-blowing.
Sopeople
my job is
he beams.
annual event,
the top of
Tola’s listfor
willtraditional
be ers, hismon
aimand
is toBunratty
bring the
event
to the—unacthe middle
that four hour
live presentation
you will see
outeasy,”
all over
the
music
Claretoisviewers
evident from
withinacross
a minutequainted.
of ing the best in trad that Clare has to offer. everytonight.
four different areas around the county. I streets,
Speaking
about
whatI Ennis
can not,
expect
this
showcasing
CoinClare
playing
music.
kid you
they
him. While
he who
reveals
that this
TolaTV
explains
that while
many viewers
go to really
Ennistymon,
Bun-willAugust,
Tola adds,they’ll
“It’s absolutely
Ireland speaking
and thoseto further
afield
will
“Fleadh
is trying
to attract
exactly tun-“What’s
cool is Miltown
I’m fromMalbay,
the area,
be everywhere,
be sittingamazing.
at the
is by far Fleadh TV’s biggest set-up for those
the who
ing into
Fleadh
TV will
hardline
rattyI’ll
andbeTulla
andtoI’ll
do live
You’llthey’ll
see 60-year-olds
six-yearwatch online.
haven’t
been
to a be
Fleadh
— trad-lovthe so what
trying
show
the hook-ups
world is inheight,
be proppingplay
up with
the window
annual
at the
top Hotel,
of Tola’s
list willethos
be of
ers,Fleadh
his aimTV
is toupbring
the event
to thetounacof that
fourClare
hour live
presentation
olds, Knox’s
you willBar,
seethey’ll
peoplebeout
all over
the
In front
of theevent,
Temple
Gate
people
to now
has been
that the
thismiddle
happens
in Co
all the
time. outside
outside
Teirshowcasing
ClareFleadh
to viewers
night.is here but we have an amaz- ney’s
streets,
I kid
you the
not,lane
they
can expect
a mini Co
festival.
TVfrom
will across
give a quainted.
very warm, colourful, unmusician-bi- Yes, every
the Fleadh
shop,playing
they’ll music.
be going
down
Ireland
and site
those
further
afield
who will
“Fleadh
TV ismusician
trying toevent,”
attractsays
exactly
“What’s movement
really cool right
is I’mhere,
froma living
the area,waywill
be everywhere,
they’ll be
sitting
the
be hosting
its own
with
a 1,500
person
ased view
of a largely
ing grassroots
beside
Teirney’s bicycle
shop,
I’m atnot
online.
those who
so what
be trying
to show
the world
height,you,
they’ll
be what
propping
upme
theaway.
window
capacitywatch
where
there will be a main stage the Toonagh
man.haven’t been to a Fleadh — the
healthy
socioI’ll
situation
where
you have
a lot iskidding
and it’s
blows
In frontstage,
of thehuge
Temple
Gate Hotel,
of Fleadh
up to now
has been to
that this
happens
in Co
Clare all
the time. “I’m
outside
Knox’stoBar,
Teirand an acoustic
speakers
and apeople
Tola,ethos
who still
works TV
part-time
as a primaof people
playing
at a high
standard,
learning
just dying
divethey’ll
into it be
nowoutside
and actucan expectbig
a mini
festival.
Fleadh
TV will
giveteacher,
a very warm,
colourful,
the Fleadh
here
an amazshop,
they’ll be going down the lane
big 12m-squared
screen.
Visitors
to the
ry school
continues,
“It’s aunmusician-bivery spe- at anYes,
amazing
level is
and
I’dbut
likewetohave
be able
to allyney’s
deliver
it.”
be hosting its own site with a 1,500 person ased view of a largely musician event,” says ing grassroots movement right here, a living way beside Teirney’s bicycle shop, I’m not
Fleadh TV
closure will see a mixture of leg- cial event and has a huge viewership — not show that and go to the world, ‘look at this,
capacity where there will be a main stage the Toonagh man.
healthy socio situation where you have a lot kidding you, and it’s what blows me away.
ends andand
established
actsstage,
performing,
along and
that
thewho
most
thing —
this of
isn’t
actually
anyatspecial
event, this
is Fleadh
goes
outtolive
TG4,
Thurs
an acoustic
huge speakers
a that’s
Tola,
stillimportant
works part-time
as abut
primapeople
playing
a high standard,
learning
“I’mTV
just
dying
diveininto
it now
and actuwith competition
winners
and
local
acts.
when
1.1million
people
who
can’t
make
the
what
all the level
time and
here’.
Aug it.”
from 8.30pm to 11.30pm live.
big 12m-squared big screen. Visitors to the ry school teacher, continues, “It’s a very spe- atwe
ando
amazing
I’d like to be able to 18th-21st
ally deliver
Tola will
be joined
on thewill
presenting
crew of legFleadhcial
tune
intoand
something
likeviewership
that, I think
an awful
Fleadh
TV closure
see a mixture
event
has a huge
— not“I won’t
show actually
that and have
go to to
thedoworld,
‘looklotatofthis,If you’re watching internationally you can
by Roscommon
woman Cathy
Jordan, a along
you’re that
in the
realm
of All-Ireland
searching
to show
an abundance
material.
it on fleadhcheoil.ie
orin
tg4.tv.
ends and established
acts performing,
that’s
the most
important finals
thing in
— but
this isn’t
actually
any specialofevent,
this is seeFleadh
TV goes out live
TG4, Thurs
with competition winners and local acts.
when 1.1million people who can’t make the what we do all the time here’.
18th-21st Aug from 8.30pm to 11.30pm live.
Tola will be joined on the presenting crew Fleadh tune into something like that, I think
“I won’t actually have to do an awful lot of If you’re watching internationally you can
by Roscommon woman Cathy Jordan, a you’re in the realm of All-Ireland finals in searching to show an abundance of material. see it on fleadhcheoil.ie or tg4.tv.
Cathy Jordan, Tóla Custy, Mairéad Ní Chuaig and Lynette Fay and at
the announcement of the Fleadh TV Presenters for Fleadh Cheoil
Na hÉireann
Inis 2016.
Eamon
Ward
Cathy Jordan,
Tóla Custy, Mairéad Ní Chuaig and Lynette
Fay
and at
the announcement of the Fleadh TV Presenters for Fleadh Cheoil
Na hÉireann Inis 2016.
Eamon Ward