Comhaltas talent from Britain shines bright at All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil
Life & Style

Comhaltas talent from Britain shines bright at All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil

BRITAIN’S traditional Irish music scene is in fine tune after a bumper medal haul at this year’s Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo.

Over 400,000 people joined in the celebrations in Ireland as competitions, concerts and sessions took centre stage in the Yeats county.

This year’s Fleadh attracted the highest visitor numbers to date, according to organisers who said there was a 30 per cent increase in attendance.

Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann president Ann Finnegan said: “This year’s competitors have taken the standard of Irish traditional music to a new level.

“It was delightful to see so many young people at the festival this year proving that the passion for traditional culture, song, dance and Irish language is as strong as ever.”

Fleadh Cheoil 2015 Chair Bartley Gavin added: “We thought that last year couldn’t be beaten, but in terms of community involvement, positive interaction with visitors, and huge numbers on the streets, it’s surpassed all our expectations.”

Over 250 events and more than 8,000 competitors took part in this year’s competitions, which took place last week.

Musicians and their families from Britain were among those from around the world who enjoyed the week-long festival of fun, with performers from Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and London among those who took home the silverware.

Ard Stiurthóir of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Labhrás Ó Murchú said: “Fleadh 2015 will rank as one of the great Fleadhanna of all time.

The Fleadh Cheoil brings to a close a memorable summer which saw Sligo take centre stage with a number of great events including the visit of Prince Charles and the Yeats 150 celebrations.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2016 will be hosted by the town of Ennis in Co. Clare from August 14-21 next year.

Scroll down for the list of winners from Britain...

Fleadh3-n Orla Felcey

Flute (12-15)

3rd - Orla Felcey, Tara O’Carolan, Manchester

Fiddle (12-15)

2nd - Breanna Wilson, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Piano Accordion (O18)

1st - Kevin Murphy, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Rory Stark Rory Stark

Whistle (12-15)

1st - Rory Stark, St James the Great, Glasgow

Concertina (O18)

3rd - Brogan McAuliffe, East London

Duets (O18)

1st - Patricia McArdle, Roisin Anne Hughes, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Trios (O18)

2nd - Roisin Anne Hughes, Catriona McArdle, Patricia McArdle, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Calum McGregor Calum McGregor

Piano Accordion (U12)

2nd - Alex Morgan, East London

3rd - Calum McGregor, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Bodhrán (O18)

3rd - Niall Quinn, East London

Grúpaí Ceoil (U12)

2nd - Trasna Na dTonnta, East London

Joe Joe McCann Joe Joe McCann

Fiddle Slow Airs (12-15)

3rd - Joe Joe McCann, East London

Flute Slow Airs (15-18)

3rd - Aaron Gallagher, West London

Whistle Slow Airs (12-15)

2nd - Olivia Whelehan, East London

Ciaran Doolin Ciaran Doolin

Whistling (O18)

2nd - Owen McFadden, North London

3rd  - Ciaran Doolin, Liverpool

Lilting (O18)

2nd - Etaoin Rowe, West London

Duets (12-15)

2nd - Megan McLaughlin, Sarah Donaldson, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Feladh2-n Colin Mullin

Uilleann Pipes (15-18)

2nd - Colin Mullin, East London

Piano (O18)

3rd - David Browne, Irish Minstrels, Glasgow

Whistle Slow Airs (O18)

3rd - Brogan McAuliffe, East London