County Brighton and the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society are busy planning events for the year ahead and developing a database of contacts and talent so that we may further develop the strong Irish events in the future.

County Brighton launched with its first event on 8 November 2006 featuring music, stories, poems and comedy in Brighton with more events planned. Meanwhile, the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society has concluded the third annual Crawley Fleadh and hosted an RTÉ Radio Programme due for broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 (15 Dec 2006 at 9pm).

We are creating a database of talent in the southeast of England and we welcome input from everyone. You can forward details of performers in any field (music, dance, comedy, spoken word, acting and story telling) to County Brighton or the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society.

Bridgette Whelan, speaking on behalf of County Brighton:

We are busy planning events for next year and want to create a database of talent so please step forward if you are a performer in any field - that includes music, dance, comedy, spoken word, acting, and story telling. It also includes things that we haven’t even thought of….

If you are experienced, grand, but don’t let your lack of performance hours stop you from getting in touch. If you have been practising gags in front of the mirror now is the time to get in front of an audience. we intend to incorporate ‘Open Mike’ spots within events so you can try out your material in a supportive County Brighton atmosphere.

What could be a better start to your career? The wages are high: honour and glory (and yet still Sainsbury’s won’t accept it at the tills, can’t think why) but we will always try to be fair to performers given that we are at the beginning stages of building a cultural community. But the best advice we ever heard was: if you do something, something happens. Already an Irish band that performed for us free of charge has acquired a paying gig on the basis of that evening. But you don’t have to sing like Van Morrison or dance like Michael Flatley to belong to County Brighton. You’re fine just as you are. We’re keen to hear from anyone who wants to help us organise and grow. There’s a lot you can do behind the scenes - how much depends on you. Don’t worry, no one will force you to do more than you want but you will get the benefit of mixing with a very nice crowd.

The annual Crawley Fleadh (pronounced Flar) kicked off last Saturday week and concluded on Sunday with free Irish dance classes for youngsters. The Fleadh was the third celebration of Irish culture taking place at venues throughout the town.

The opening night concert was an eclectic start to a week of events aimed at broadening awareness of the Irish in Britain, organised by the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society. and featured live music from Sateen and Fairtrade plus Irish dancing from the Andromeda School of Irish Dancing. MC for the night was television presenter Alan Ennis and additional material was provided by Marie Aine Dhrainne in both English and Irish Gaelic. The event was opened by Amanda Bane from the Irish Embassy and the acting Mayor, Chris Redmayne.

One of the highlights of the Fleadh is Gaelic Football and Hurling coaching in local schools. It gave young children an opportunity to learn distinctly Irish sports for the first time in the town’s history. The Fleadh also held Irish Art classes plus story telling.

Set dancing, Irish language and cookery classes were also held during the week. Ryder Cup head chef, Frank Coughlan, introduced visitors to some culinary details inspired by Irish cooking traditions on Tuesday Night. The Fleadh also re-launched Irish language classes which will take place fortnightly. The Set Dancing takes place weekly.

The award winning Nomadic Theatre Company brought the dramatised fictional meeting of Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan, Rare ‘Oul Times, to the town on Friday evening. The play is romp of argument and conversation between two of Ireland’s famous playwrights. The actors had previously taken the play all over the world.

The Saturday Night of the Fleadh provided an evening dance focused on Irish country music at the Emerald Club. Music was provided by Sham.

The Tavern on the Green, Pound Hill, was host of “The Irish Experience” radio programme on Thursday 30 November. Paschal Mooney, former RTÉ presenter and now Senator in the Irish upper house will be presented the show entitled “The Irish Experience”. Music was provided by Blackthorne, Brogue and the Celtic Colleens. Irish dancing from the O’Brien School of Irish Dancing was also on show. The programme included interviews with local people and is due for broadcast later in December.

The “Irish Experience” is a four-part programme looking at the Irish living in England. Other programmes are to be recorded in Manchester, Newcastle and London. The recording will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday 15 December at 9pm. RTÉ Radio can be received on Sky Radio 160 and Longwave 252.

The Fleadh was funded by profits from the Crawley Irish Festival, sponsors and the Irish government Dion Fund. Photos from the events can be found at http://www.celtic-irish.co.uk/photos.