There were plenty of sparkling Mayo performances from the county’s top traditional musicians for the estimated 300,000 trad fans who converged on Sligo last week for the biggest cultural event in Ireland - Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Sligo’s hosting of the event saw the national Fleadh cross the Shannon and head into the west for the first time since Ballina hosted the cultural extravaganza in 1998 which, at the time, delivered an whopping economic lift to the tune of £7 million.
Mayo competitors did their county proud at the Fleadh and there were plenty of singers, dancers, and musicians who brought prizes home for their efforts.
Chairman of Mayo Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Pádraig Egan, congratulated all the prizewinners from the county.
“They are a credit to their respective branches and their families. They did their county proud. Irish traditional music, song, and dance is thriving in Co Mayo,” he said.
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Anthony Kavanagh, CCÉ, Clár Chlainne Mhuiris, won first place in the Songs in English (men 15-18 years ) category. Photo: Kathy Burke.
“Competitors from the county continue to excel at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and credit for this is due to a whole number of factors. Not least among them is the large number of teachers promoting Comhaltas in the county. Long may it remain so.”
The full list of Mayo winners is: Fidil/Fiddle (15-18 ) 2nd Eibhlin de Barra, CCÉ, Gort na mBó; Consairtín/Concertina (12-15 ) 3rd Chloe Feeney, CCÉ, Clár Chlainne Mhuiris; Consairtín/Concertina (15-18 ) 3rd Aileen de Burca, CCÉ, Gort na mBó; Consairtín/Concertina (o18 ) 2nd Paul Clesham, CCÉ, Baile an Daighin; Cruit/Irish Harp (12-15 ) 2nd Sal Heneghan, CCÉ, Caisleán a Bharraigh; Cruit/Irish Harp (o18 ) 2nd Alannah Thornburg, CCÉ, Micheál Dáibhéad; Organ Béil/Mouth Organ (o18 ) 1st John Horkan, CCÉ, Micheál Dáibhéad; Pianó/Piano (o18 ) 2nd Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; 3rd Paul Clesham, CCÉ, Baile an Daighin; Rogha Ghléas/Miscellaneous (15-18 ) 3rd Aoife McCarrick, CCÉ, Gort na mBó; Rogha Ghléas/Miscellaneous (o18 ) 3rd Éa daoin Ní Mhaicín, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; Tionlacan/Accompaniment (o18 ) 3rd Alannah Thornburg, CCÉ, Micheál Dáibhéad; Foinn Mhalla, Cruit/Irish Harp Slow Airs (12-15 ) 1st Sal Heneghan, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; 3rd Chloe Feeney, CCÉ, Clár Chlainne Mhuiris; Foinn Mhalla, Cruit/Irish Harp Slow Airs (o18 ) 2nd Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, CCÉ, Caisleán a Bharraigh; Ceol Triúr/Trios (15-18 ) 3rd Ellen Murphy, Caoimhe Kilkenny, Catherine Lambe, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; Bannaí Céilí/Céili Band (12-15 ) 2nd Rolling Waves, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; Amhránaíocht ar an Sean Nós, Gaeilge (mná )/Sean Nós Singing, Irish (ladies ) (12-15 ) 1st Caitríona Ní Thiarnáin, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; Songs in English (men )/Amhráin Bhéarla (fir ) (faoi 12 ); 1st Paddy Heneghan, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; Songs in English (Men )/Amhráin Bhéarla (Fír ) (15-18 ) 1st Anthony Kavanagh, CCÉ, Clár Chlainne Mhuiris; Portaireacht/Lilting (o18 ) 3rd Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, CCÉ, Caisleán an Bharraigh; Rince Leath-Seit/Half Set (mixed ) (faoi 18 ) 3rd Craobh Choisdellibhe/Roisín Bn Uí Cheallaigh, Davóg Frayne, Seán Óg Frayne, Eleanor Harrison, Rachel Lyons, CCÉ, Choisdellibhe/Roisín Bn Uí Cheallaigh; Rince ar an Sean Nós (15-18 ); 2nd Davóg de Fréine, CCÉ, Choisdellibhe/Roisín Bn Uí Cheallaigh.
