French festival celebrates Irish
talent
 By JOE MULLARKEY
AMONG the many events celebrating St. Patrick this year some stand out
either because of their location or range of events.
And the organisers the La Semaine Irlandaise in Lens in France had both
these elements.
The festival this year was be the 15th annual event — with in previous
years musicians like Four Men and a Dog, Michael McGoldrick, Alan Kelly,
the Kane Sisters and North Cregg appearing.
The main artist for the 2006 festival was Máirtín O'Connor
and there were concerts of Irish music in local schools every day during
the week culminating in the Grand Concert de la St Patrick on March 17
and the grand finale the next day.
Organiser Didier Riez became interested in Ireland after a month-long
visit with his wife 18 years ago when he stayed in Clifden in Co. Galway.
He said: “The people we met, the music and the culture in general
plus the landscapes meant my wife and I really fell in love with your
country.
“As a teacher I already had an idea to build an exchange with a
school and during our second visit the year after I asked for an interview
with a teacher of Clifden Community School and we decided to work together,
in order to organise study trips for our pupils and rugby matches for
our young players.
“Then the idea to organize a festival started in March 1992 and
with other French people we formed the Sláinte Association.
“All felt something special about Ireland. At the beginning we invited
some bands from Clifden or Co. Galway but after a while we were able to
invite bigger names in Irish music.”
Any traditional musicians who would like to send their CV to the Didier
Riaz for consideration contact Didier 00336 83 84 67 52 or e-mail: slainte.fr@caramail.com
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