by Alan Jacques
FOR the first time in almost 70 years, the annual Féile Luimní festival of instrumental music will not be held in the city.
In an ironic twist, the announcement that the prestigious music event would not be taking place in January came as Limerick was about to embark on its year-long tenure as Ireland’s first City of Culture.
According to a Féile Luimní spokesperson, the cancellation of the event was caused by a withdrawal of support from the Limerick School of Music.
Féile claim that their committee were informed at a meeting in October 2012 by Limerick School of Music principal David O’Connell, that over 90 per cent of staff at the school had voted not to support the event. The reason cited at the time, they claim, was “dissatisfaction from both teachers and parents”.
Féile say no specific reasons for Limerick School of Music’s “so called dissatisfaction” was communicated to them.
Féile’s Joe O’Connor expressed extreme disappointment at the current development.
“The embargo issued by the Principal of Limerick School of Music last year was never lifted, in spite of the fact that no reasons have been advanced for this withdrawal of support. About 75 per cent of the entries for the four day event would come from Limerick School of Music. It just became impossible for the Féile to operate at its full potential in these circumstances,” claimed Mr O’Connor.
Féile President John Doyle described the attitude of Limerick School of Music as “most regrettable”.
He said that it was a direct result of the success of the Féile, which was held for the first time in 1946, that the School of Music was established 16 years later in 1962.
“It’s a pity that in Limerick’s Year of Culture, students are being denied the opportunity to perform at one of the most prestigious events in the Mid West, and worse still in their native city,” Mr Doyle added.
However, Limerick School of Music Principal David O’Connell said that they had always strongly supported Féile Luimní. Indeed for many years, the instrumental section of Féile Luimní was held at Limerick School of Music.
“We believe in the ethos of Féile Luimní but cannot continue to support it in its current format, as has been advised to the Féile Luimní Committee. Limerick School of Music looks forward to working with Féile Luimní in the future with a revised, revitalised and fit-for-purpose format”, Mr O’Connell concluded
