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Fleadh scrapped until ’01

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Patrick Markey

Billed as one of America’s greatest lineups for Irish musical talent, for three years the Guinness Fleadh festival brought a summertime taste of traditional and modern Celtic flavor to New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco.

But organizers have scrapped this year’s Fleadh events in New York and San Francisco following the loss of their high-profile sponsorship from the Guinness group.

Citing logistical difficulties, the London-based Mean Fiddler company announced its decision not to go ahead with the festivals on Wednesday, July 5.

In a statement, the company said organizers hoped to present both the Fleadh and its other large event, Homelands, next year.

"We are, however, determined to present the Fleadh and the Homelands in both markets in May or June next year to tie in sequentially with both the Fleadh and the Homelands events in Europe at the same time," the statement said.

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The decision to cancel the Fleadh events caps another major setback for the festival.

A three-year partnership and sponsorship with Guinness dissolved in April, prompting Mean Fiddler to hold over the Fleadh until September.

Guinness said the company had ceased involvement in the Fleadh events for internal reasons. Mean Fiddler’s festival organizer, Melvin Benn, said in April that the company was rescheduling and talking to other potential sponsors, including drink makers, magazines and internet companies.

Mean Fiddler did not return several messages left at the company’s New York office seeking comment on the final cancellations.

Held annually, the Fleadh events drew thousands of spectators to see artists as diverse as New York Irish scene regulars Black 47 and The Prodigals to international big names, such as Elvis Costello, Van Morrison and Sinead O’Connor.

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