Huge Success for Fred Finn musicians Connacht Fleadh in Ballina

A Chairde,

Our branch had significant successes at The Connacht Fleadh in Ballina. Congratulations to all our young musicians and singers & Irish speakers who qualified to represent the Fred Finn Branch and County Sligo at the Connacht Fleadh. Please find full list of prizewinners below & please let me know if any winners have been accidentally omitted. All 1st & 2nd prizewinners go forward to represent the branch at the All Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar in August

Our 3 grupaí ceoil involving 60 young musicians & 2 Ceili Bands (20 children) competed at the Connacht Fleadh.  Congrats to the U15 grupa who were awarded 3rd place & to the U15 ceili band who were awarded 2nd place. This was a remarkable achievement for the Fred Finn branch, the children & their parents and reflects the input of 4 very dedicated tutors Michael Rooney, June McCormack, Seán Carroll and Charles O’Connor over the past five months. Huge time was spent on tune selection, variations, recordings & arrangements by the 4 tutors. All practices were held in Summerhill College and facilitated by Kenny Donagher.  

Comhghairdeas to all of our young members for their achievements at the Connacht Fleadh

Is Mise le Meas,

Seamus McCormack

List of Connacht Prizewinners

Fleadh Chonnacht 2023 – Fred Finn Branch medal winners

Grúpaí Ceoil 12 – 15 3rd Grúpa Ceoil Fred Finn

Céili Band 12 – 15 2nd Fred Finn Céili Band

Whistle slow airs 12 – 15  1st Aoife Fadian

Whistle 12 – 15  3rd Aoife Fadian

Whistling 12 – 15  1st Lucy Carroll

Whistling under 12 – 1st Sarah Gilmartin

Duets 12 – 15 Aoife Fadian, Sophie Hanley

Bodhran 12 – 15 1st Noel White

Drums 12 – 15 1st Noel White

Button accordion 12 – 15 2nd Cillian Rooney

Flute 12 – 15 1st Eoghan Rooney

Harp 12 – 15 2nd Eoghan Rooney

Piano accordion under 12 1st Brendan O’Connor

Comhrá Gaeilge under 9 Matthew McSharry Toher

Comhrá Gaeilge 9 – 11. Ronan O’Connor

Comhrá Gaeilge 11 – 13 Ella Ward

Concertina 12 – 15 1st Sophie Hanley

Flute slow airs 12 – 15 1st Sophie Hanley

Uilleann pipes 12 – 15 Aoife Fadian

Uilleann pipes slow airs 12 – 15 Aoife Fadian

Flute under 12 3rd Liam Kenny

Whistle 12 – 15 3rd Aoife Fadian

Flute slow airs 2nd Darragh Brennan

Drums under 12 3rd Niamh Kennedy

Newly composed tune 3rd Aoife Fadian

All 1st and 2nd prizewinners qualify to perform at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar

Seamus McCormack