Newcastle Fleadh success

Newcastle Fleadh success

26 August 2015

NEWCASTLE Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) is celebrating success at the recent All-Ireland Fleadh.

Launched by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, this year’s Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann returned to Sligo town, where an estimated 400,000 visitors enjoyed the largest annual Irish traditional music, song and dance festival in the world between August 9 and 16.

Two of the youngest members returned home as All Ireland medallists — Castlewellan’s Ruairi Howell (15) and Cathleen Garland (10) from Dundrum.

Ruairi competed in the mouth whistling 12-15 age group and amidst stiff competition won a bronze medal, having won gold at the Ulster Fleadh a few weeks ago. Ruairi has also been Ulster champion for the last five years in this competition.

Ruairi first discovered he could mouth whistle many years ago. He is self taught and practices one of the oldest traditional forms of music daily.

Cathleen won second place representing the branch in the ladies singing under 12 section.

Cathleen is this year’s Ulster Fleadh Champion and again faced stiff competition from 14 other girls, securing her medal with a performance of The sweet Maid of Gurteen and The Creggan White Hare.

Other local members representing the branch included Niamh Howell, Matthew McAstocker, Ciara Maguire, Terry Cowan, Aidan Finnegan and Paul Rush. The Over 18 Grupa Cheoil members were Siobhan and James Walsh, Eimear and Cormac Hyland, Caitlin Bloomer, Noleen Jaidane, Maria McGrady, Deirdre Hayes, Claire Stratton-Savage, Bronagh Sawey, Sharon McCawley-Breen, Patricia Savage, Sean O’Neill, Dearbhla McDonnagh, Sean O’Baoill and Terry Cowan. 

Newcastle CCE’s members all enjoyed their week-long Scoil Eigse classes. Scoil Eigse gives everyone the opportunity to take part in the various instrumental music, singing, dancing and Irish language classes. Classes boast a low pupil to teacher ratio and are led by a team of international tutors who are also master performers.

Chair of the branch, Roisin Howell, extended congratulations to everyone who took part, who she said were a credit to themselves, their families and their tutors.

Classes will commence again on Thursday, September 24 and Saturday, September 26 in the Lodge Cultural Centre, Castlewellan.  

Classes are available in tin whistle, flute, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, bodhran, drums, piano and button accordion, concertina, uileann pipes, harp, junior and senior set dancing, traditional singing, all levels of Irish language and music theory and grades. Children must be at in least Primary 3.

Anyone currently hiring an instrument is asked to bring it along to the registration session on September 5.

The registration session on September 5 between 10am and 12 noon is for current members only. 

Further sessions are available on Thursday, September 10 between 7pm and 9pm and Saturday, September 12 from 10am to 12 noon.