Music: Congratulations to the Fleadh 2012 Winners!

By
Gwen Orel
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Haley Richardson, 10 years old, silver medal winner
How It’s New York: Lots of players from the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh went to compete. We congratulate them all for getting to that place, whether they won or not!
How It’s Irish: The Fleadh (in Cavan this year) is THE mark of achievement in Irish music. Winners are placing in the ALL-IRELAND. Haley Richardson, pictured at right, won silver in her category, under-12 fiddle. She’s what you call a prodigy, and we’ve got some video of her below.

Special thanks to Maureen Donachie for quickly compiling the list below! You’re a star, Maureen Where would we be without your calendar?. Are you on her mailing list yet? Write her to subscribe!

We hope to have more in-depth info in weeks to come including interviews but meanwhile in case you missed it on Facebook (where the posts were fast and furious!) here are the results, and some video! There’s loads more on youtube that gives you a sense of the overall fun– buskers, kids playing for pennies,  sessions.

What is a fleadh? Never been? I’ve visited the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh in Parsippany, but after browsing the Fleadh Cheoil Site this year I know I’ve got to go next year. It’s not just a music competition; it’s also a site for concerts, sessions, and general craic.
From their site:

At the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann inaugural meeting in September 1951 it was decided to create a national festival named Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Festival of Music in Ireland).

County, provincial and worldwide Fleadhanna are important events in the traditional Irish music calendar and annual Comhaltas events include Fleadh Nua, Fleadh na Breataine (an All-Britain Fleadh Cheoil), regional Fleadhanna in Britain, Japan and the USA.

 

Eimear Arkins at the Blackthorne, dawn

EIMEAR ARKINS, 2nd place, Songs in Irish, 2nd place, Songs in English, 3rd place, Lilting (All Over 18)/Saint Louis Irish Arts, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
is it clear yet that this gal can sing?

The Pearl River Céilí Band

PEARL RIVER CÉILÍ BAND1st Place U-12 Céilí Band / Pearl River Music School

Rose Conway Flanagan, Patty Furlong and Margie Mulvihill are teachers! In my next life I want to study with them!

BRIAN GALLERY 1st Place U-12 Whistle Slow Airs / Acosta School

Sarah Buteux with teacher Rose Conway Flanagan

 

SARAH BUTEUX 1st Place U-18 Fiddle / Rose Flanagan – Pearl River Music School

MARTIN O’CONNELL 1st Place Senior Button Accordion / Martin represented Laois at the Fleadh (originally from Co. Kerry) but resides part of the time in NYC

yes he does, and we saw him with Mick Moloney a few months back. I made chocolate chip cookies, for some reason, and he liked them. Now, I suppose I must make him more! He deserves it!
 

HALEY RICHARDSON 2nd  Place U-12 Fiddle (RECALLED) / Brian Conway
Ok, this gal is just amazing. Amazing. Watch this:

 

 

DYLAN FOLEY 2nd  Place Senior Fiddle (RECALLED)
We’re sooooo impressed with Dylan! Read our InteReview with him here!

 
 (Dylan with Catilin Nic Gabhann and Kavan Donohoe at the Fleadh 2011, broadcast on RTÉ 2012)

DANIEL BURKE 3rd Place U-15 Piano / Acosta School

Finbar Kantor

FINBAR KANTOR 3rd Place U-18 Fiddle Slow Airs / Brian Conway

MOLLY O’RIORDAN  3rd  Place U-18 Singing / Deirdre Connolly – Woodlawn House

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