Resounding success for Fleadh Mhor Dhoire as city takes centre stage

The traditional musicians of Derry city and county can be exceptionally proud of themselves after the resounding success of the recent county showpiece which literally ‘played’ out over four wonderfully colourful days last weekend. 

The event organisers, city Comhaltas branch CCE Baile na gCailleach can also rightly take a well-earned bow for their sterling work in not only putting together an enviable programme of support events, but for also running a meticulously planned and executed competition schedule.

IN PICTURES: Winners from County Derry Fleadh held at St. Brigid's College

Co-chair of the fleadh, Angela Harkin said: “To say that the fleadh was a success would in all honesty be an understatement. From our opening event, the Session Mhor at Studio 2 on Thursday night, to the Singing Session on Friday, our band competitions on Sunday as well as the Session Ceol at The Cosh Bar on Sunday afternoon and a thronged Guildhall on Sunday night for the Ceili Mor the entire fleadh was a wonderful spectacle.”

Hundreds of young musicians contested more than 50 competitions over a two-day period during the fleadh, vying for a coveted first or second place which is the requirement to progress to the Ulster Fleadh, which this year will take place in Dromore in neighbouring County Tyrone between 16-23 July. And those who succeed at provincial level will have a very short stop gap before travelling to Wexford in pursuit of the ultimate prize at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann between 4-11 August. 

At the city’s Colaiste Bhride on Saturday 20 April, competitions got underway at around 10.00 am beginning an entire day of top-class entertainment for the visiting spectators but also a day of fiercely contested musical battles. Away from the spectacle and colour of the county showpiece, this is the ‘business end’ of the fleadh where the weeks and indeed months of practice come to fruition. 

Proof that the competition arena was exceptionally busy is explained by the fact that six full classrooms at St Brigid’s College were being used simultaneously and rotated on a very tight schedule. 

In final preparation, in every quiet corner of the school building, young musicians tuned their instruments and mentally prepared for the performance ahead of them. While it appears a completely matter-of-fact procedure for the young performers, for the relatively uninitiated to the world of fleadh competitions, there can be few places anywhere in the world, where a line of young harpists await entry to a competition room. 

IN PICTURES: County Derry Fleadh ceili band competition held in Studio 2

It is a striking sight and one that should never really be taken for granted by anyone. Nevertheless, once the competition gets underway, even those familiar with the competition element of the fleadh cannot help but be transfixed by the sound of the dance tunes and slow airs produced by the talented fingers of Ireland’s national instrument. Of course, the same applied to those playing fiddles, banjos, accordions, concertinas uilleann pipes and even the art of playing ceili drums in tested by adjudication. 

Brendan Molloy, County Derry Chair of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann said: “I want to put on record my sincere thanks to the principal and staff of Colaiste Bhride for letting us have such extensive use of their facilities. The college is ideal for use in terms of competitions and the help we received from the school was nothing short of outstanding.

“The host branch, CCE Baile na gCailleach worked tirelessly to make sure that the standards we have come to expect were not only matched but exceeded. My thanks and congratulations also go to them”.

Having watched some competitions unfold, it is easy to see why the exceptionally standards of ability are not just developed but maintained. Unlike the testing of other forms of the traditional Irish arts, where there is a more comfortable physical distance between the competitor and adjudicator, here the performer sits right in front of their judge and every single facet of their ability is examined at, what can only be really described at point blank range.

Group of volunteers pictured at The County Derry Fleadh held in St. Brigid's College. (Photos - Deirdre Heaney, nwpresspics)

The adjudications themselves are delivered in a very professional, incredibly frank, and forthright manner, but with only ever the desire for truly constructive criticism at heart. It’s in this way that overall standards are not just maintained but improvements are also made for each and every competitor. 

Angela Harkin added: “Our city and community came to life with the sounds of our music, song, language, and dance. It is a rich tradition that we uphold, and I am proud to say that Derry did a brilliant job of producing our county showpiece yet again.

"I also wish to thank our magnificent fleadh committee who have given so much of their time and skills completely voluntarily. And without our very generous sponsors this fleadh couldn’t have happened. So I also send my thanks to them because they and our patrons took every opportunity they had top back us.”