ComhaltasLive #281 This week we present more music recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008, including: * An impromptu session with Sorcha Rooney (harp) from Sligo, Daire Mulhearn (button accordion) from Ennis, Co. Clare, Karen Hickey (fiddle), Fiachra O’Regan (uilleann pipes) and Pádraig O’Neill (fiddle) of Dublin. * A group of tutors from the 2008 Scoil Éigse, including Sabina McCague (harp) from Co. Monaghan, Máire Nic Dhiarmada (flute) of Sligo, Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes) of Leitrim, Oisín MacDiarmada (fiddle) of Sligo and Pádraig King (button accordion) of Limerick. * The Innisfree, Dartry and Naithí Céilí Bands, recorded at the Senior Céilí Band competition. * Bronwyn De Paor and Edel Quinn in the Senior Fiddle competition. Time | Segment —-|——- 00:00 | A selection of reels ending with “The Congress Reel” played by Sorcha Rooney (harp) from Sligo, Daire Mulhearn (button accordion) from Ennis, Co. Clare, Karen Hickey (fiddle), Fiachra O’Regan (uilleann pipes) and Pádraig O’Neill (fiddle) of Dublin. This was one of the many impromptu sessions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. 03:23 | A selection of jigs: “The Bluebells in Bloom” composed by Mike Dwyer, and “The Humours of Drinagh”, played by five of the tutors at Scoil Éigse 2008. The musicians are Sabina McCague (harp) from Co. Monaghan, Máire Nic Dhiarmada (flute) of Sligo, Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes) of Leitrim, Oisín MacDiarmada (fiddle) of Sligo and Pádraig King (button accordion) of Limerick. As well as being a member of the group “Téada”, Oisín is also leader of the Innisfree Céilí band, who won the Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008. The music was recorded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008 at Scoil Éigse, an annual summer school attended by approximately 800 pupils from many parts of the world. 06:04 | Winners of the 2008 Senior Céilí Band competition, the Innisfree Céilí Band from Sligo play their selection of reels, ending with “Trim the Velvet.” They were recorded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Band members are: Cormac Mac Diarmada, Damian O’Brien and Oisín Mac Diarmada, fiddles; Máire Nic Dhiarmada Finbar McGreevy and David Sheridan, flutes; Paul Finn, button accordion; Oliver Loughlin, piano accordion; Charles O’Connor, piano and Daragh Kelly on drums. 08:56 | Second place in the Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008 also went to Co. Sligo: the Dartry Céilí Band. Included in their performance, they played this multi-part barn dance. Band members are: John Kilkenny, Mossie Martin, Declan Folan and Philip Duffy, fiddles; Noelle Carroll and June McCormack, flutes; Michael Rooney, concertina; Stephen Nolan, accordion; Damien McGuinness, drums and Kevin Brehony, piano. Incidentally, about 12 members of the Innisfree and Dartry Céilí Bands learned their early music from fiddle player and teacher Paddy Ryan from Co. Roscommon. Paddy, well-known as a presenter of traditional music programmes on Midlands Radio is also one of the organisers of Scoil Éigse since its inception many years ago. 11:50 | Bronwyn De Paor from Ennis, Co. Clare took third place in the Under-18 fiddle competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008. She played this hornpipe. The music was recorded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August of 2008. 14:36 | In the senior fiddle competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008, Edel Quinn of CCÉ Baile Eachaidh, Derry played the reel, “Farewell to Ireland”. Edel took 2nd place in the Fiddle Slow Airs competition. She was recorded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August of 2008. 17:15 | A selection of jigs played by the Naithí Céilí Band, CCÉ Craobh Naithí, Dublin in the Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2008. The first jig is “The Humours of Ballingarry.” Band members are: Claire Walsh, Mick Glynn and Emma Woods, fiddle; Brendan McCabe and Sarah Jane Woods, flute; Aoife Johnston and Peter Denmead, concertina; Philip Denmead, button accordion; Martin Gaffney, piano and Martin Dodd on drums. The music was recorded in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008. [*Download Audio*](http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/cl281/cl281_all_64K.mp3 “Audio – ComhaltasLive 281”)