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This is the latest venture by Enjoy Travel and is a further endorsement of a new awakening and interest in Celtic and folk music in Ireland and the UK.
Gerry Flynn, Mayo native and CEO of Enjoy Travel, and also former Bord Fáilte manager in the English Midlands, pioneered the overseas music holidays over two decades ago.
His first ventures were with the set dancing and céilí fraternity and he expanded this to the country music scene some time later.
The two-week April festivals in the Seaview Club near San Antonio on the island of Ibiza became legendary and, at their height, were attracting close on 2,000 patrons.
These were magical occasions and Ibiza remained the centre of the Enjoy Travel promotions until the famous Icelandic Ash Cloud of 2010, which had a huge impact on charter travel, necessitated alternative arrangements and a switch to the Spanish mainland.
The success of the folk festivals led us to focus on the feasibility of promoting a festival that would have more appeal to Irish audiences so we also decided on a Celtic on the Costas venture
When Enjoy Travel expanded in recent years into the UK folk market with their overseas promotions in Spain and Portugal, they were amazed with the huge uptake from folk aficionados all around the UK.
Such has been the success of the Costa del Folk promotions that they are now running two annual events. One will take place in Portugal 15-21 October.
The other will take place 25 April to 1 May in Ibiza with former BBC Radio 2 folk show presenter Mike Harding as compere for both events.
“The success of the folk festivals led us to focus on the feasibility of promoting a festival that would have more appeal to Irish audiences so we also decided on a Celtic on the Costas venture. Our inaugural Celtic Festival will debut in the Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort and Hotel Spa in Albufeira from 21-27 October and it is already creating some buzz,” says Gerry Flynn.
“It will be a week of celebrating the best of Celtic Music traditions.
"The music of Ireland, Scotland and Wales has transcended all kinds of boundaries and has become for many, the music of the soul, an international form of communication that leaves you happy and fulfilled in its wake,” says Gerry.
Her endearing personality has made Joanie one of the best-loved entertainers on this circuit
Inviting Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies as one of the headline acts is a stroke of genius. Joanie is an absolute legend on the Irish-American scene and has deep roots in east Galway.
She organises one of the most popular annual music cruises out of Florida and has many Irish guests including Seán Keane and a host of others.
Her endearing personality has made Joanie one of the best-loved entertainers on this circuit and Cherish the Ladies will be a rip-roaring success when this festival debuts in the Algarve in October.
Moya Brennan and her family band are also in the line-up and many will be delighted to see the Donegal singer in this enchanting setting in Albufeira.
Moya is the eldest of a family of nine and is a sister of the renowned Celtic singer, Enya.
The line-up for the inaugural Celtic on the Costas Festival also includes Eleanor Shanley, The Jeremiahs, Colum Sands, JigJam, High Time, Katie Theasby, Ger O’Donnell, Angela Usher, Matt Griffin, Seamus Begley, Meábh Begley, Michael McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly.
Meanwhile, the annual Enjoy Travel Costa del Dance takes place in the Hotel Amaragua in Torremolinos from 7-17 April. This has been one of the flagship promotions of the company over the years and remains a favourite with the country music and set dancing fraternities.
The line-up for April includes the Stephen Smyth Band, Joe Davitt Band, Showband Sounds featuring: Keith and Frankie McDonald and Buck Taylor, Brendan Magee and Eugene Cunningham, Glenshane Country featuring Pat McKenna and Hugh Turner, Nicky James, Pat Jordan with Kieran Towey, Philomena and Michael O’Brien, Olivia Douglas, John Rafferty, J&K Country, Showbud, Joe Boyle and Johnny Carroll.
Full details on the Celtic on the Costas and the Costa del Dance festivals can be had by calling the Enjoy Travel head office in Blackburn on 00 44 1254 445050 or visiting their website at enjoytravel.co.uk
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