Cavan success at All-Ireland Fleadh

Competitions, concerts, céilithe, sessions and more at biggest ever Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Cavan musicians and dancers made their county proud with a host of impressive results throughout at this year’s All-Ireland Fleadh.

At the core of the Fleadh are the competitions that see traditional musicians, dancers, singers and story tellers of all ages and backgrounds competing at All-Ireland level, following victories at regional competitions.

Over 150 competitions took place in Wexford, showcasing some of the finest talents that Irish traditional music has to offer.

Up to 20,000 performers played, sang and danced at the All Ireland Fleadh. The standards were high and the music more than lived up to the expectations of judges who had a very difficult job choosing winners for each category and competition.

The local achievements mark an exceptional year for Cavan musicians who celebrated major success at regional level also.

CCÉ Mullahoran got the celebrations underway on Friday, taking third place in the 8-hand Céilí Dancing Mixed (12-15) category. Their momentum carried into Saturday when they claimed top honours in the 15-18 age group, bringing home gold in the same discipline.

Friday also saw strong performances in individual music competitions.

Eoghan McGovern of CCÉ Cavan Town secured second place in the Uilleann Pipes (12-15), while Niall O'Gorman of CCÉ Belturbet came third in the Mandolin (12-15).

Belturbet CCÉ celebrated more success in the Slow Airs categories, with Lorcan Lynch earning first place in U15 Fiddle Slow Airs, and Caoimhe Lynch taking third in U15 Flute Slow Airs.

Saturday’s Bodhrán competition (15-18) saw a double podium finish for CCÉ Cavan Town, with Tara Lynch and Eimear Nic Chába taking second and third respectively.

Eimear added to her medal tally later that same day, winning silver in the Céilí Drums (15-18) competition.

Another standout performance came from Shania Smith (CCÉ Cavan Town), who secured second in the Lilting (15-18) event.

On Sunday then, Ruairí Griffin (CCÉ Cavan Town) delivered a remarkable showing in the over-18 category, clinching gold in both the Flute and Whistle Slow Airs, along with silver in the Flute competition.

In other Sunday results, Eoghan Gunn (CCÉ Mullahoran) earned third place in the highly competitive Miscellaneous (15-18) category.

Eoghan McGovern later teamed up with Keelin Martin of CCÉ Killeshandra/Cavan Town to claim third in the Duets (12-15) and McGovern struck again in the Trios, joining Mark and Séamus Edwards (CCÉ Cavan Town) to secure another third-place finish.

This year's fleadh was opened by President Michael D. Higgins, and it is estimated the event attracted close to 500,000 visitors to the Model County during the final weekend of competitions and events.

Next year's fleadh will be held in Belfast, marking the first time the city has hosted the world's largest celebration of Irish music and culture. It is also the first time the fleadh has returned to Ulster since Derry and successive fleadheanna took place in Cavan.

This is only the second time the Fleadh has been held in Northern Ireland.

Dr Labhrás Ó'Murchú, Ardstiúrthóir, Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann said, “When Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann commenced in 1951 it was obviously a very small event. In the intervening years the Fleadh has grown to be a Festival of world proportions. It emphasises how our childhood traditions have prospered in the intervening years, and today plays a significant role in tourism with over 25% of the 800,000 attending, coming from out of state.”

Competition, Place, Winners Details

11B Maindilín / Mandolin (12-15 years), 3rd place, Niall O'Gorman, CCÉ, Belturbet, Cavan

14C Rogha Gléas / Miscellaneous (15-18 years), 3rd place, Eoghan Gunn, CCÉ, Mullahorn, Cavan

16C Bodhrán (15, 2nd place, Tara Lynch, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

16C Bodhrán (15, 3rd place, Eimear Nic Chába, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

17C Drumaí Céilí / Céilí Drums (15-18 years), 2nd place, Eimear Nic Chába, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

18B Foinn Mhalla Fidil / Fiddle Slow Airs (12-15 years), 1st place, Lorcan Lynch, CCÉ, Belturbet, Cavan

20B Foinn Mhalla, Feadóg Mhór / Flute Slow Airs (12-15 years), 3rd place, Caoimhe Lynch, CCÉ, Belturbet, Cavan

20D Foinn Mhalla, Feadóg Mhór / Flute Slow Airs (O18 years), 1st place, Ruairí Griffin, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

21D Foinn Mhalla, Feadóg / Whistle Slow Airs (O18 years), 1st place, Ruairí Griffin, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

23B Ceol Beirte / Duets (12-15 years), 3rd place, CCÉ, Killeshandra/Cavan Town, Eoghan McGovern, Keelin Martin, Cavan

24B Ceol Trír / Trios (12-15 years), 3rd place, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Eoghan McGovern, Mark Edwards, Seamus Edwards, Cavan

36C Portaireacht / Lilting (15-18 years), 2nd place, Shania Smith, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

3D Feadóg Mhór / Flute (O18 years), 2nd place, Ruairí Griffin, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan

41B Rince Céilí Ochtair Measctha / 8-Hand Céilí Dancing Mixed (12-15 years), 3rd place, CCÉ, Mullahorn, , Cavan

41C Rince Céilí Ochtair Measctha / 8-Hand Céilí Dancing Mixed (15-18 years), 1st place, CCÉ, Mullahorn, , Cavan

7B Píb Uilleann / Uilleann Pipes (12-15 years), 2nd place, Eoghan McGovern, CCÉ, Cavan Town, Cavan