The irish language, it is not a latin-derived language so the pronounciation is completely counter-intuitive. It is beautiful to hear when spoken well, but it is difficult to learn and to be quite honest, the irish people are incredibly welcoming and warm, but quick to poke fun and therefore you have to endure mispronouncing it then someone will ask you to mispronounce it again just so they can make fun of you for a few minutes about it before telling you how it should be said. Not exactly an efficient process. Irish (or gaelic as we know it) is also missing some letters that we use, like v. Instead they combine other letters to accomplish the sound they want. Like the name Niamh, pronounced Nieve. They also combine words together with extra letters so that the word will sound better or the sentence will flow better.
Anyway, I digress. The Fleadh is a regional music festival where the kids from all over come to Kenmare and play their instruments and dance and sing to win "The Munster". From here if they win they will compete in the All-Ireland music festival (the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann) later in the summer. I went to a few of the shows and concerts and really wanted to take pictures, but it was unfortunately also pouring rain for most of the weekend which is not great for the camera. Not to mention I once again found myself in the dilemma where I wanted to enjoy and be in the moment and taking photos seems to distance me from that.
I took some pictures at one of the dance lessons at the square in town. Anyone can go and learn and they lead everyone through the footwork for some basic set dances. It was great. All on a little stage they built in the town square. The kids were great.
It is shocking how much music is engrained in the irish lifestyle. It's just part of who they ARE. All these kids start dancing when they are about 3 or 4 and by the time they are in school they already know the tempo of the different dances and how a jig is different from a reel so they start playing an instrument. I watched a kid who was the new munster champion in his age group (probably about 7) play his heart out till 11:30pm at the pub on an accordian while his friends played along with their fiddles and 3 little girls danced. It is sensational. The best part, his little brother was about 1 or 2 and pushed up in the corner snoozing in his stroller. No one would dare bother him and his parents need not worry. It is all about the family here. Everyone in the bar was cheering him on for more. At one point he actually put his "squeeze" down and they cheered for an encore.
I also saw a girl my age do a brush dance. This is a more traditional ditty and they basically lay a broom on the floor and do a dance around it. Here's a video. It's not her, but you'll get the idea. This is all just in the middle of the floor at the local bar. Push the pool table aside and dance away. The little dancers just idolized her from that moment on. I'm going to learn it.
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