Encountering Irish traditional music through virtual space: the experience of FleadhFest 2021
International Journal of Event and Festival Management
ISSN: 1758-2954
Article publication date: 13 February 2024
Issue publication date: 15 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The main research questions critically examine online videos that draw attention to a local community of musical practice, noticing how these can potentially be included within the tourism promotion strategies. This paper develops a case study of four videos realised by the Louth County Board of the organisation Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) in Co. Louth, Ireland, as a part of the FleadhFest 2021 initiative. It highlights the role that virtual spaces have in enhancing a sense of belonging to a music/festival community as well as the possibility that visual and audio supports have in promoting and celebrating a destination and its cultural features.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis involves a netnographic examination of these videos (Janta, 2017), informed by the concept of “tourist gaze” (Urry, 1990; 2002) and influenced by film-induced tourism studies (Beeton, 2005).
Findings
Results show how festival and event organisers responded to COVID-19 social restrictions by creating a virtual space for celebrating music heritage and local musicscape, placing an emphasis on local musical scene.
Research limitations/implications
The research aims to inform future developments in how the organisation operates within and engages with virtual space, its members and a wider audience.
Originality/value
This is the first study to consider the virtual activities of CCÉ from an ethnomusicological as well as tourism, perspective.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
My research is funded by the Irish Research Council and I am grateful for the support of my supervisors Dr Daithí Kearney (DkIT) and Dr Ioannis Tsioulakis (QUB). I would also like to thank Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for its role in enriching my musical knowledge.
Citation
Pessina, L. (2024), "Encountering Irish traditional music through virtual space: the experience of
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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