Ed Reavy Traditional Music Festival 2019

The 5th Ed Reavy Traditional Music Festival takes place this October from the 18th to the 20th and incorporates a variety of Concerts, Music Workshops, Fiddle Masterclasses, Sean-Nós/Set Dancing Workshops, 3 Set Dancing Céilis, Comhrá Gaeilge Workshops, Historical Exhibitions and Talks as well as numerous Sessions. It takes place at The Cavan Crystal Hotel and at other venues around Cavan Town.

The Festival celebrates Ed Reavy, the renowned Irish American musician and composer of traditional Irish dance tunes. Born in Barnagrove, Cootehill, Co. Cavan in 1898, Ed emigrated to Philadelphia in 1912 where he lived till his passing in 1988. An outstanding fiddler, he recorded for the Victor record label in 1927. It is estimated that he wrote between 400 and 500 tunes.

The Ed Reavy Traditional Music Festival will launch on Friday night at the Meadow View Inn at 9:30pm with a performance by Seoda who were the 2018 winners of The Battle of the Bands competition. This will be followed by an open Session.

The Ed Reavy International Fiddler of The Year competition will be held on Saturday afternoon in The Cavan Crystal Hotel, starting at 1.30pm. The competition covers both Junior (U-16) and Senior (O-16) categories. It has a prize fund of over €2,000. If you would like to enter the competition, then please click Entry to download the application form which covers both age categories and return the completed form by Wednesday 16th October.

On Saturday night at The Cavan Crystal Hotel there will be a concert featuring The MacGabhann Family. This will commence at 8:30pm. Supporting artists will include Cavan Fiddlers, the 2019 Ed Reavy Fiddle Competition Winner, Gary Curley, Stephan McKee & Gerry McMahon, Shane Meehan and House of Hamill (USA).

The Ed Reavy Traditional Music Festival also incorporates ‘Dancing in the Drumlins’, with Set-dancing and Sean-nós performances and Workshops/Classes and Céilis throughout the weekend.

Further information and up to date details can be viewed on Facebook by visiting EdReavyTradFest. Information is also available by visiting the Cavan Town CCÉ website at cavantowncomhaltas.ie. Alternatively, for any queries and booking places you can send an email to edreavyfest@gmail.com or call +353 (0)86 083 2250 if you have any queries.