A selection of photos from a great weekend! Bain Taitneamh As!

Peter O'Donnell of ireland360.com was a stealthy figure around Ballydehob for Féile Átha Dá Chab, unobtrusively gathering classic images of the first year of the festival. In the many pictures he took, he managed to capture the magic of the weekend. Here are a few of those snaps. Enjoy!


A Bunch of Happy Campers at the Bodhrán Workshop with Colm Murphy


Stepping it out at Edwina Guckian's Brilliant Sean-nós and Brush Dance Workshop


Edwina Impresses All With a Few Steps.



Christy Leahy Focuses on the Job at Hand During his Much-Enjoyed Accordion Workshop


Séamus Creagh Busy At Work With His Students in the Fiddle Workshop


Hammy Hamilton's Flute Workshop Was a Big Hit, with Students Asking That he Return to Féile Ágain Next Year.


Jackie Daly's Students Learned Some Sliabh Luachra Versions of Popular Tunes


Áine Meirbhic Sings for Students at her Sean-Nós and Traditional Singing Class




John Meirbhic of Church Cross Sings His Heart Out at the Singing Night in O'Brien's Bar.


Old Friends Make New Ones in Levis's Bar


The Saturday Evening Session in The Sandboat


A Group of Friends From Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, Enjoying Themselves in Rosie's Bar.

Later in the week, there will be even more photos up on this blog, so check back again to see those.

Come On Da Hob!!!!!!

Well, after all that, Féile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song and Dance Weekend 2007 has come and gone all too quickly. It was a lovely weekend from start to finish. A great crowd turned out from far and wide to enjoy the music, song and dance and a great time was had by all. The bad weather held off until now, making it even more enjoyable. The weekend kicked off on Friday night with a session in Rosie's Bar from Jackie Daly, Séamus Creagh, Hammy Hamilton, Colm Murphy, Garry Walsh and Paul de Grae. It was great to have music of this caliber back in Ballydehob and those lucky enough to squeeze through the crowd to hear the musicians were treated to some lovely sounds.
Meanwhile, the overflow of people flooded in to O'Brien's Bar where the regular Friday night session in Ballydehob was well underway, under the noble stewardship of Liam Keneally. To say, the pub was rocking is a bit of an understatement. There were a huge number of musicians playing and every now and then a gang of set dancers visiting from France would take to the floor to step it out to the tunes. There were songs also, with Francis from Listowel making her mark in Ballydehob with the first of many great songs to be delivered over the weekend. The Irish Whip also had some nice songs the same night and tunes also floated out the window of the Sandboat. The weekend was off to a great start!


Saturday morning saw a great influx of enthusiastic students back into the village to learn from the masters. Over 50 people turned up for the sean-nós dancing in the hall. They were all well impressed with Edwina Guckian, both for her own talent in the art of sean-nós as well as for her great ability to teach and pass on the tradition. A lot of people had pains in places they didn't know existed after five hours of leaping around at this class!


The instrument workshops went really well. They were all well attended, many having been booked out for some time before the festival. Áine Meirbhic's singing workshop was also full, and Áine's students were delighted with the little book of songs and CD they eacy received to take home with them.
After the workshops, the sessions around the village began in no time. Levis's Bar was beautiful altogther with Nell welcoming all with a smile, as some demonstrated their newly acquired skills in brush dancing while others sang and played.
The sandboat was packed for a mighty session from John Coakley and friends. Jackie and Co packed out the Irish Whip for their session later that night, while dancers warmed up for the céilí in the back of Coughlan's Bar to the sounds of local girl Maria Cotter on fiddle and Pat Fleming on the box.
The singing night was, as expected, a great success. There were songs and recitations to beat the band, and Áine Meirchic ran a well-organized and structured night, ensuring respect, quiet and appreciation for all performers.

The Abbey Céilí Band blew the roof off the hall to around 17 sets of dancers, who danced to a well thought-out set, designed by Janet Robertson of Ballydehob Céilí Club. Céilí Club members went all out with the tea and cakes and left people a lot heavier going back out onto the floor after the break. In particular, Lianne's killer chocolate brownies made a huge impression!
The weekend rounded off with a farewell session in Minihane's Pub in Lisheen, where a capacity crowd enjoyed a fine selection of music and songs. Then it was Rosie's bar for what turned out to be arguably the best session of the whole weekend. Anne Redmond, Ivan Camier, Noel Camier, Maria Cotter and Pat Fleming ened Féile Átha Dá Chab on a high note leaving everyone already looking forward to next year.
Keep an eye on this site over the coming days for photos of the workshops and sessions. But in the meantime check out
ireland360.com to see a lovely panoramic photograph of Levis's Bar on early Saturday evening.
Finally, thanks to everyone who made the journey to Ballydehob, looking forward to seeing ye again next year. Slán go Fóill.

Féile Átha Dá Chab Sponsors

Fáilte Ireland
Cork County Council
Foras na Gaeilge
Ballydehob Community Council
The Irish Whip Bar, Ballydehob.
Rosie's Bar, Ballydehob.
Sandboat Bar, Ballydehob.
O'Brien's Bar Ballydehob.
Coughlan's Bar, Ballydehob.
Camier's Service Station, Ballydehob
Wild Goose Studios Kinsale.
Shane O'Neill Insurance, Skibbereen.
Annie's Restaurant, Ballydehob.
Carbery Oils.
Bank of Ireland, Skibbereen.
Fluid Edge Web Design, Dublin.
Barry's Tea.
Field's SuperValu, Skibbereen.
FBD Insurance, Skibberren.
PJ McCarthy Insurance, Skibbereen.
Levis's Bar, Ballydehob.
Schull Books, Ballydehob.
Duggans Restaurant, Ballydehob.
Whizzer Scissors, Ballydehob.
Catríona's Beauty Salon, Ballydehob.
SummerSalt Café Ballydehob.
Skibbereen Credit Union,
An Carraig Ard, B&B.
Minihane's Pub, Lisheen.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann, Bantry.
Coolbawn Lodge, B&B, Caheragh.
Skeaghnore Fresh Farm Duck, Ballydehob.
EBS, Skibbereen.
Permanent TSB, Skibbereen.

A special thanks also to Janet Robertson and the members of Ballydehob Céilí Club, Mary O'Callaghan and St. Bridget's National School, Shane O'Neill, Alyn Fenn, Christina Hickey, Gabriel Rangers Football Team, John Coakely, Tom O'Sullivan, Bridget Trethewey, Serena Corcoran and Íde Ní Mhuirí of Gael Scoil Cloich na Coillte, Sinéad Ní Ghairbhith, Michelle Jones and Peter O'Donnell, John Meirbhic, Róisín Ingle, David Young, UCC Campus Radio, Raidio na Gaeltachta, Gail Sheehan, Anna O'Driscoll, My Beautiful Launderette (Ballydehob) and everyone who helped to put up posters and spread the word about Féile Átha Dá Chab. Míle Buíochas!

Them Boots Were Made For Walking........

If the weather is as good as it is at the moment and you feel like a bit of fresh air and breathtaking scenery during Féile Átha Dá Chab, you may be interested in going on a short scenic walk or a hill walk on Mount Gabriel with local man, Paddy Corcoran, on the mornings of Saturday April 21st and Sunday April 22nd. Paddy will depart from outside the Irish Whip Bar in Ballydehob at 10 am on each of these mornings and each of his walks will be approximately three hours in duration. So, if you are waiting for a friend or a child to come out of a workshop, this may be a nice way to spend the morning. These walks are FREE, as Paddy is simply happy to share the beauty of Ballydehob with other walkers. If you would like to go on one of these walks with Paddy, you can give him a ring on 087-7955423 or e-mail him at pcor@indigo.ie

Don't Miss Local and National Radio Previews of Féile Átha Dá Chab 2007

Feile Átha Dá Chab, Ballydehob Traditional Music, Song and Dance Festival will be previewed on local and national radio in the coming weeks.

Cork's 103FM will preview the festival on its West Cork Today programme on Tuesday April 10th at 1.30 pm. This preview will feature information on Féile Átha Dá Chab and a chance to hear a song from Áine Meirbhic.

NewsTalk 106-108 FM will preview Féile Átha Dá Chab on Saturday April 14th on Róisín Ingle's WeekendBlend show. World Fleadh sean-nós dance champion, Edwina Guckian will feature in this preview and even dance a few steps live on air! Listen in between 10.30 and 11.30 am to catch this preview.

Finally, the Saol ó Dheas program on Radio na Gaeltachta (92.6-94.4FM) will include an interview with Áine Meirbhic, who will provide information on the festival. This program broadcasts from 12-1pm weekdays. Unsure about which day the interview will be on, so you will just have to tune in every day to make sure you don't miss it.