Tulla Comhaltas Cultural Centre,  Co. Clare, is holding a weekend music festival on the last weekend in June to celebrate the Gathering. Tulla is an area renowned for its unique style of music, and on this occasion we will be celebrating the wonderful tradition of fiddle playing. As part of this celebration we are hosting some of the best fiddle players in the world, including Patrick Ourceau, who is travelling from Canada, Antoinn MacGabhann, Vincent Griffin, Macdara O’Raghallaigh and Bernadette Nic Gabhann, to name a few. These legendary fiddle players will be teaching workshops and playing in concerts, recitals and sessions in the town over the weekend.

On Saturday 29^th June we are holding a Fiddle Feis, this is an open fiddle competition, starting with competitors at under 8 age and going up to 20 years old. Fiddle players from any part of Ireland, UK, Euorpe , US, or any part of the world are welcome to enter. There are some very valuable prizes to be won including a cash bursary of €500 for the Young Fiddler of East Clare title, a half scholarship to Meitheal Summer School, value €350, a week of workshops at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, and workshops at the Feakle and Tulla Traditional Music Festivals.  There are also very valuable cups, trophies and medals to be won for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place in each competition.

The categories are, under 8,  9 – 10 years, 11- 13 years, 14- 16 years and 17- 20 years.

 The Young Fiddler of East Clare competition is open to fiddle players between 17 and 20 years of age, they must play two selections of music, the emphasis will be on musicality, not technicality. First prize in this competition is The Vincent Griffin Perpetual Cup and cash Bursary of €500.

 Pre – entry for this competition is required and closing date is 5pm on 21^st June 2013.

 First Prize in the 14-16 age group is The Crimmins’ Perpetual Cup and a half scholarship to Meitheal Residential Summer School, July 22^nd – 26^th . This prize is valued at €350 and has been very generously sponsored by Meitheal Summer School. The winner will be required to sign a contract with Meitheal, stating that they will pay the remaining €350 and will take up the place which is on offer at the Meitheal Summer School, which is one of the most prestigious Irish Trad Music Summer Schools in Ireland and is run by Garry Shannon.

 The 11 – 13 age group will be competing for The John Minogues’ Bar Perpetual Cup and a full week of workshops at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, which has been very generously sponsored by the Willie Clancy Summer School Committee.

Further information, including a downloadable entry form and rules can be found on www.cnocnagaoithe.com  or post your name, age category for competition, with date of birth and postal order to Cnoc na Gaoithe Cultural Centre, Chapel St, Tulla, Co. Clare.  For further information phone 087 8350996 or  087 1715760 .