Laois comhaltas group excel at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann

A Laois comhaltas group has done the county proud at the Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar.

The talented young musicians of Spink Comhaltas and their support team had a hectic week at what is the largest traditional music festival in the world, bringing home a host of medals.

The festival is the culmination of competitions held all summer – from the Laois Fleadh Cheoil held in Abbeyleix in June, through the Leinster Fleadh in Dublin, and finally to the All-Ireland in Mullingar which attracts diaspora from all over the world.

Just to qualify for the All-Ireland finals is a major achievement for any musician, particularly in Leinster where competition is tight.

Spink Comhaltas was proud to have representatives at all four competition levels, all performing magnificently, taking home three silver medals.

The winners were Maébh Dunne on flute at U12, Leah O’Donovan on concertina at U15 and Daniel Aylward for uileann pipes slow airs at U18. (More below photos)

Other competitors were just narrowly pipped for medals in their competitions, with Ailise Dowling-McDonald and Ciara Mackessy just outside the medal places. 

However, competitions were not the only aspect that Spink Musicians were involved in. Twenty of the musicians, including singers and dancers, took to the main stage on Thursday evening to entertain the large crowd.

Spink musicians performing on the Gig Rig.

Earlier that evening, a number of the Spink musicians were part of a 140 strong Meitheal Trad Orchestra which performed in St Paul’s Church, while a further group of Spink musicians were performing as part of the Leinster Youth Orchestra, led by Robert Harvey and Aaron Mackessy, both from Spink.

Finally, Spink was represented in the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland by David Vesey, who was also supporting the Meitheal Trad Orchestra earlier in the week. 

Spink Comhaltas is one of many Laois branches performing and winning awards in the Mullingar festival.

Tadhg Dalton from Portlaoise won in U15 drums, and it was a one-two for Laois in the U12 Bodhran with Lily Butler from Portlaoise 1st, and Rian Nolan from Camross 2nd.

A trio made up of musicians from Clonaslee and Portlaoise achieved 3rd place in the U18 trio competition – well done to Edel Conway, Fionn Connolly and Nell Kettle.

Laois Youth Officer Noel Stapleton, from Kilcavan, won 3rd place in the signature competition of Senior Accordion.

The Buggy School of Dancing, who entered via Portlaoise Comhaltas, won a fine 3rd place in the Ladies U18, 8 hand Céilí Dancing competition. The Buggy Dancers also won 3rd place in the U15, 4 hand Céilí Dancing. A good weekend for the Buggy dancers.

The first result of the weekend of competitions was from Ratheniska Comhaltas, who continue their fine tradition of dancing with a 3rd place in the 8-hand Céilí Dancing, U12 competition.

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Spink Comhaltas also sponsors one of the trophies at Fleadh Cheoil – the U12 Melodeon competition, and congratulations to Seán Angland from Kerry who won this competition.

While the competitions might be over, Spink musicians still have a busy few weeks before they are back to school, with the last of the summer seisiúns in Aylward Rural Museum on Wednesday, August 16, a performance in Durrow library as part of Heritage Week on Thursday, and the end of year BBQ and awards on Friday, August 25. In between, Spink will be performing at The Power of Words Festival in Abbeyleix.