Showcasing emerging musical talent, the annual Feis Ceoil remains at the heart of our vibrant music tradition. Ahead of this year's event, which runs from March 20th-31st, Feis Ceoil CEO Laura Gilsenan celebrates a venerable (and rather youthful) Irish institution...
A bastion of excellence in the promotion of education and performance, where it has played a significant role in the lives of many successful musicians, actors and writers - with famous prize-winners that include James Joyce, John O’Conor, and singers like Tara Erraught and Celine Byrne, and comedian Risteard Cooper, to name but a few:
My first experience of Feis Ceoil was carrying one end of a double bass from St. Stephen’s Green to the Metropolitan Hall in Abbey St. for the school orchestra competition in the early 80s. (We had no fancy bass cases in those days). I came back with the pointy end of the bass in one hand and the winning cup in the other! Little did I think, as I trudged along in my school uniform, that running the festival was in my future…
The Feis is now in its 127th year and has been an annual fixture in the calendar of Irish musicians since it was set up in 1896. While the Feis has grown and evolved along with all other aspects of Irish life and its rapidly changing history, what I find most fascinating is how few of the fundamentals have changed. There is no technology that can fast track the hours of practice it takes to master an instrument. The process of teaching and learning may benefit from easier access to resources, but remains essentially as it has been for hundreds of years. Standing up to perform in front of an adjudicator and a roomful of your peers is still as nerve-wracking as ever. But the adrenaline rush that comes after a good performance and audience appreciation is what makes it all worthwhile!
One of the best things about the Feis from my point of view is seeing young competitors first compete at the age of 7 and following their progression up through the junior age categories, into the senior competitions and occasionally, on to successful careers. Sometimes they win prizes, sometimes not, and they have to learn to deal with inevitable disappointment along the way. While the majority of competitors will not go on to become professional musicians, their Feis experience will hopefully have taught them a level of resilience, confidence and a strong work ethic as well as many happy memories.
Watch: Mount Anville Choir prepares for Feis Ceoil 2022
Just as with elite athletes, at the highest level of music performance there is a crucial support network without whose dedication and sacrifice the musician will simply not reach their full potential. Parents, teachers, coaches, siblings – all have a significant role to play. The Feis is proud to have a bursary portfolio of over €30k, donated by organisations and private individuals, which can help ease the financial challenges encountered.
Choir Day and Orchestra Day are among my favourite days during Feis fortnight. Busloads of excited school children arrive at the RDS and descend upon the hall in absolute chaos, only to be re-formed into disciplined groups to sing or play. The participation of so many school-goers is really what the Feis is all about, participating in something that is greater than the sum of its parts – creating a sound and atmosphere that is unique to that particular group. Giving students the chance to hear other choirs and orchestras also induces a healthy dose of friendly rivalry – vowing to up their game for next year if they don’t win the Cup!
People often ask me why I think the Feis remains so successful. Firstly I think we are extremely fortunate in Ireland to have exceptional teachers who understand the benefits of competition and encourage their students to take part. (The most driven musicians are always keen to benchmark themselves against their peers.) We engage internationally-respected adjudicators who teach and perform at the highest level, providing valuable feedback on each and every performance. We are also extremely fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who have worked with us for many years to ensure the smooth running of the festival.
Running a festival of this size and scope costs a lot of money and people are often surprised to learn that we don’t receive any regular state funding. While we are fortunate to have loyal supporters and philanthropic donors who share our passion and vision for music in Ireland, we face the perennial challenge of securing funding not only to meet any potential shortfall, but which would allow us to realise our dreams for the future.
Fundamentally though, I think the key is to be prepared to adapt and grow, make new plans and implement new ideas, but never at the expense of those aspects of Feis which are as relevant now as they were at the turn of the 20th century. I meant, if it ain’t broke…
Feis Ceoil 2023 runs at the RDS from March 20-31, and is open to the public - find out more here.
