Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the Launch of the Temple Bar Traditional Irish Music and Culture Festival, 2007 at the Oliver St. John Gogarty Bar, Temple Bar on 9 January, 2007 at 6.30pm
Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the Launch of the Temple Bar Traditional Irish Music and Culture Festival, 2007 at the Oliver St. John Gogarty Bar, Temple Bar on 9 January, 2007 at 6.30pm
A dhaoine uaisle.
Is mór an pleisiúr domsa a bheith in bhur measc inniu chun an fleá Cheoil agus Chultúir a sheoladh. Is cúis áthais dom Fleá mar seo a fheiceáil ag dul ar aghaidh i gcroí lár na cathrach. Ceiliúrann sé sprid ár náisiúin trín a cheol, a rince agus a chultúr. Ba léir ó na sluaite móra a d’fhreastal anuraidh go raibh tús maith agaibh. Tá súil agam go mbeidh feabhas ar an scéal fós - an bhliain seo agus go rachaidh an fleá ó neart go neart sa todhchaí.
I am delighted to be with you today to launch the Temple Bar Traditional Irish Music and Culture Festival, 2007. This is a venture I warmly welcome, providing as it does, a focal point for the wealth of Irish culture, song and dance, that helps to define our identity as a people.
Irish traditional music, song and dance are such an intrinsic part of our heritage. In many ways Irish history itself is echoed and expressed melodically in the diversity of its airs. While Irish music continues to evolve and reflect a changing Ireland, the beauty, complexity and uniqueness of our age-old song and dance tradition should also be preserved and celebrated.
The success of this Festival so far mirrors its value and appeal here at the heart of our capital. Dublin is a stronghold for the traditional arts but has lacked a platform for major traditional artists in more recent times and so I was delighted to hear that the festival will be an annual fixture here. Running from 25 to 28 January, this is the second year of Temple Bar Trad which had such a successful debut in 2006.
The success of last year’s festival proved that our appetite for the best of our traditional culture is still alive and well. All of the ticketed events for 2006 were sold out and an estimated 20,000 people attended festival events over the four days of its duration. While the majority of festival-goers were from Dublin and surrounding counties, the event also attracted visitors from as far afield as Australia, Norway and Japan. Of course, this is great news for the Temple Bar area where local traders experienced, on average, a 15% increase in trade during the festival weekend.
The local traders group TASCQ who are organising this event on a non-profit basis, are to be commended for bringing about such a successful initiative.
I know that the organisers are very excited about the 2007 Temple Bar Trad and are especially delighted that Brendan Gleeson has agreed to be the festival’s patron this year. The line-up of artistes certainly promises to be richly varied and of a high quality. Over the four days of the festival, there will be performances from household names such as Lúnasa and Dervish. Incidentally, I must congratulate Dervish on being chosen to represent Ireland in the next Eurovision song contest and I wish them the best of luck.
The festival will also see concerts from traditional masters such as Peter Horan, Bobby Ross, Cathal McConnell, Kevin Glackin, Ronan Browne and Seán and Seán Óg Potts, to name but a few out of an impressive line-up. As well as that there will be new ‘showcase gigs’ to put the spotlight on talented up and coming traditional musicians who are mostly from Dublin. These include Seán McKeon, Liam O’Connor, Christina Pierce, Caoimhe Hogarty, Michelle O’Brien, Siobhán Peoples, Mikey Smyth and Conor McEvoy.
And to ensure that everyone can get involved, the programme includes children’s storytelling, workshops, family music sessions and céili mór. There will also be photographic exhibitions and a lively trad and folk trail through some of the pubs and bars in the area.
I have heard it said that the truest expression of a people is in its dance and music and so it is marvellous to see the continuing vibrancy and popularity of our traditional arts sector. Although rooted in ancient tradition, Irish music and dance have seen a great resurgence in recent years and they have, in a sense, been re-discovered by a new generation.
So it is vitally important that we preserve and develop our traditional arts in Ireland and the Government is firmly committed to this. That is why my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, has ensured that a system of financial support has been put in place for the traditional arts alongside the supports for other art forms.
The Arts Council is now implementing a three year Traditional Arts Initiative which was allocated €3 million in 2006, its first full year of operation, with a commitment to on-going significant financial support. Under this initiative, the Deis scheme has been put in place to encourage and facilitate the traditional arts community to seek funding from the Arts Council for a range of projects. We look forward to seeing the traditional arts continue to flourish with the support of these new measures.
Events such as this festival help to ensure that the best of Irish music and culture remain accessible to our people. I know that the organisers of the Temple Bar Trad are very grateful for the support that the festival is getting from a number of quarters. This year, the principal sponsor is Bushmills Irish Whiskey, now part of the Diageo family, and who better to support a series of traditional, folk music and cultural events than a company as traditional and Irish as you can get. Further support for the festival from Dublin City Council, Dublin Tourism and Temple Bar Cultural Trust is also much appreciated.
It only remains for me to wish the organisers, the performers and all who participate, every success with the Temple Bar Traditional Irish Music and Culture Festival, 2007. I have no doubt that this festival will become an increasingly successful and popular event in the years to come.
Go raibh maith agaibh.
ENDS