Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in row over Derry Bid to hold Fleadh

[sheamy]

http://newswireni.com/content/derrys-bid-host-fleadh-back-track-ulster-council-do-u-turn


Derry's bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh is back on track after the Ulster Council of Comhaltas did a u-turn on its decision not to back the city.

The Council reversed its decision not to back Derry's bid at a meeting of senior officers last night.

The Ulster Council had refused to back the bid on Sunday, citing the dissident republican threat of violence as the reason. Derry Comhaltas appealed against the decision and asked the people of Derry to contact the Ulster Council via email with their reasons the city should play host to the biggest celebration of Irish traditional music, culture and dance in the world.

The final decision on whether Derry will host 2013's event will take place at the weekend.

[theticklemister]

'Political correctness' if such a tital is ever valid, has again come to the fore in this debate about bringing the Fleadh to the UK city of culture in Derry. This debate has reminded me of the Lisbon Treaty a few years back........... at the first you don't succeed ram it down their necks once more because we in the government are always right and in the end sure we always get our own way.  So as it stands.....

...... Gone to the Derry branch - Deadlock

...... Back again to the Derry Branch - County members refuse to attend as they are villified for having a view on things

...... Went to the provincial council in Ulster - Ulster says no

...... Back again to Ulster - Ulster says yes

(Later this weekend).............

....... What happens if it is shot down for Ennis or Sligo

....... Do the supporters of the Fleadh for Derry yet again have a whinge and say we 'DEMAND' it here???

....... Or do the supporters of the Fleadh for Derry realise that they were unsuccessful?


Due to popular belief not everyone here in Derry is supporting this bid nor indeed is at all happy with the town being named UK City of Culture despite the glowing praises of the local politicans. Indeed Martina Anderson's constant remarks that we must 'embrace' this UK city of culture, has made many a person chuckle up here. Not too long ago her and here lackies would have 'shut up' people who made such comments. Her colleague Martin McGuinness accepting the award on the soil of Liverpool was another example, if any was needed, of how people's belief's have changed with power.  Those who speak out against such a bid have not recieved any of the same coverage as those who have backed it as the local media believe that this is 'a good new story'; presenting ourselves as a proud city within the UK to the whole world does not make it 'a good news story' to myself. They tell us that the Fleadh will bring so much money here, attract investors here etc........ when has ever the Fleadh been about this? The fleadh is about the festival of Irish music and Irish culture, it is a celebration of the aforementioned; not a political football. Has Derry ever tried to host it before? No. So the UK city of culture team has jumped on the bandwagon and tried to get everything virtually possible in the country to Derry for that year. Will they give a flying hoot about it in years to come, I doubt it, they probably beilieve that the Fleadh has served us well for that year and we have no need for it anymore.  Would the fleadh be respected here in Derry, would they appreciate it? Time will tell as Irish tradiotnal music is poorly welcomed at the minute.

Britain's appeasement to the Irish has for centuries been political....now they have hijacked our culture; something that has set us apart from Britain.

Below was a statement Posted on: January 24, 2012, 02:11:51 PMPosted by: Hardy 
Insert Quote
This whole row seems to centre on a semantic misunderstanding. Derry is to be the UK City of Culture for 2013, not the City Of UK Culture.   

Yer point is a contradiciton of one self.

[theticklemister]

'Political correctness' if such a tital is ever valid, has again come to the fore in this debate about bringing the Fleadh to the UK city of culture in Derry. This debate has reminded me of the Lisbon Treaty a few years back........... at the first you don't succeed ram it down their necks once more because we in the government are always right and in the end sure we always get our own way.  So as it stands.....

...... Gone to the Derry branch - Deadlock

...... Back again to the Derry Branch - County members refuse to attend as they are villified for having a view on things

...... Went to the provincial council in Ulster - Ulster says no

...... Back again to Ulster - Ulster says yes

(Later this weekend).............

....... What happens if it is shot down for Ennis or Sligo

....... Do the supporters of the Fleadh for Derry yet again have a whinge and say we 'DEMAND' it here???

....... Or do the supporters of the Fleadh for Derry realise that they were unsuccessful?


Due to popular belief not everyone here in Derry is supporting this bid nor indeed is at all happy with the town being named UK City of Culture despite the glowing praises of the local politicans. Indeed Martina Anderson's constant remarks that we must 'embrace' this UK city of culture, has made many a person chuckle up here. Not too long ago her and here lackies would have 'shut up' people who made such comments. Her colleague Martin McGuinness accepting the award on the soil of Liverpool was another example, if any was needed, of how people's belief's have changed with power.  Those who speak out against such a bid have not recieved any of the same coverage as those who have backed it as the local media believe that this is 'a good new story'; presenting ourselves as a proud city within the UK to the whole world does not make it 'a good news story' to myself. They tell us that the Fleadh will so much money here, attract investors there........ when has ever the Fleadh been about this? The fleadh is about the festival of Irish music and Irish culture, it is a celebration of the aforementioned; not a political football. Has Derry ever tried to host it before? No. So the UK city of culture team has jumped on the bandwagon and tried to everything virtually possible in the country to Derry for that year. Will they gave a flying hoot about it in years to come, I doubt it, they probably beilieve that the Fleadh has served us well for that year and we have no need for it anymore.  Would the fleadh be respected here in Derry, would they appreciate it? Time will tell as it is poorly welcomed at the minute.

Britain's appeasement to the Irish has for centuries been political....now they have hijacked our culture; something that has set us apart from Britain.

Below was a statement Posted on: January 24, 2012, 02:11:51 PMPosted by: Hardy 
Insert Quote
This whole row seems to centre on a semantic misunderstanding. Derry is to be the UK City of Culture for 2013, not the City Of UK Culture.   

Yer point is a contradiciton of one self.

[Dougal Maguire]

Classic from Sabrina Sweeney on Evening Extra on Radio Ulster this evening when she announced that
'Londonderry is back in contention to host the All Ireland Fleadh next year.' I kid you not you can hear her if you go into the I Player and move along to 17.09

[sheamy]

tickle, no harm to ye, you usually talk sense, but you're way off the mark here.

It may seem like 'we're not taking no blah blah blah', and I can understand how you reach that position Re Lisbon comparison etc, but the reality is very different. Let the full national Comhaltas decide as is their right, the decision of which is final and indisputable. To have the passage of the bid hijacked from even getting there by a minority is however wrong.

[AQMP]

For purely selfish reasons I hope Sligo gets it.

[Archie Mitchell]

Seems like Derry are hosting the Fleadh in 2013

http://newswireni.com/content/derry-set-host-all-ireland-fleadh-2013

[Denn Forever]

Best of Luck Derry and enjoy it.  Sorry to see it go.

[Ulick]

Terrible news. Mark my words it'll be a disaster and the same media people who complained when it looked like Londonderry wasn't going to get it will be out in force to complain about the on street drinking, street fighting ( and I can tell you that as a person who's been to dozens of Fleadhs and never witnessed a fight itl'll be a factor in Derry)and the clean up costs

Ahh... sure they said the same before it went to Letterkenny.

[Rossfan]

Terrible news. Mark my words it'll be a disaster and the same media people who complained when it looked like Londonderry wasn't going to get it will be out in force to complain about the on street drinking, street fighting ( and I can tell you that as a person who's been to dozens of Fleadhs and never witnessed a fight itl'll be a factor in Derry)and the clean up costs

Don't try any of that oul' positivity anyway.

Maith sibh Cómhaltas Dhoire.

[ardal]

I've been to a few fleadhs and may well be back for the one in Derry.

I usually tie it in around a weeks camping. Where can I camp in Derry and walk to every event?

[Ulick]

I've been to a few fleadhs and may well be back for the one in Derry.

I usually tie it in around a weeks camping. Where can I camp in Derry and walk to every event?

Cavan had shuttle-buses from the camp-sites to the town. Worked pretty well.

[Aerlik]

I think this is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate to the British population that whereas Derry may be the 'UK' city of culture, ultimately, Derry and the by default the six counties are part of the Irish nation where Irish culture predominates. 

[Dougal Maguire]

Well that message doesn't seem to be resonating from Radio Ulster who still keeps referring to Londonderry winning the Fleadh. Its aggravating to say the least

[theticklemister]

Aerlik your comment there is laughable. It contradicts itself. I for one don't want dominion or colonial status from Britain like your statement refers too.