NYAH Festival 2009

One of the participants on the recent Fáilte Ireland International Field Trip to Leuven was Martin Donohoe who represented the Nyah Co Cavan Traditional Arts festival. Martin is a renowned musician who performs traditional music both in Ireland and abroad. He is one of the driving forces behind the NYAH festival which starts this year on March 11th and builds to a spectacular climax on St Patrick’s Day (March 17th).

This will be the sixth year of the NYAH festival. It has been described as a celebration of all things Cavan. It celebrates the traditional music, song, dance and culture of County Cavan, the Ulster tradition and the county’s very own musical style. Michael Harding, writer calls the Cavan style ‘enigmatic and unpredictable’, claiming that ‘Cavan music is a lace-maker’s music’. And Cavan can lay claim to Ed Reavy, one of the most performed Irish composers in the world.

The NYAH Festival Committee was formed in 2003 to plan and implement a Traditional Arts Festival in County Cavan. The Committee is comprised of individuals with strong backgrounds in traditional music, dance and song who are recognised nationally and internationally.

The NYAH committee are recognised musicians (of national and international note) and have contacts throughout the music industry cementing the NYAH’s potential to as one of the most important music festivals in the Northwest. The NYAH Committee, Comhaltas and other key stakeholders work together to promote, preserve and enhance the traditional arts. The areas of focus are music, dance, song and visual arts. NYAH is an Irish word which refers to the ‘lift’ or soul of artistic (usually musical) expression. The NYAH committee work to identify and preserve local and regional traditional arts as well as embracing new influences from other traditions nationally and internationally, which will have a positive impact on the art forms and on local and tourist participation.