Local Election candidate for Athlone Cllr John Dolan warmly welcomed the recent announcement of €10,000 funding by Westmeath County Council for the Leinster Fleadh 2014 to be held in Moate.
John liaised with council officials to secure funding from the Business Innovation Fund. “As a member of the Moate Action Group committee, I am delighted to have helped negotiate this funding,” he added.
The Leinster Fleadh will be held on the weekend of July 11-13. Councillor Dolan outlined “The economic benefits for the town of Moate and surrounding areas will be enormous with an expected 8,000 visitors over the festival period”. Competitors along with their families and friends are expected to attend the fleadh from all parts of Leinster to compete for a place at Fleadh Cheoilna hÉireann.
The fleadh will feature top class traditional Irish entertainment, including live street entertainment, gig-rigs, a session trail, céilithe, recitals, sean nós dancing, and a fleadh concert. The fleadh competitions themselves will be held in Moate Community School, Tuar Ard Theatre, and Moate Community Hall.“I hope this funding will make a positive contribution towards the costs of staging the fleadh in Moate and I wish the organising committee well with the event,” commented Councillor Dolan.
