Bofield CCE / Gort na mBó
Contact
- Ballina
- Mayo
- +353 87 7845860
Email:
Bofield, Gort na mBó, is a small townland in Bonniconlon parish, situated four miles south-east of Ballina in Co.Mayo, on the east side of the river Moy. It has a long history of music. The Loftus family in Bofield established the first Céilí band in the 1930’s. During the 1950’s, the then school teacher, James Brennan, had a number of school bands which played and won at numerous competitions and were recorded by RTE. In the 1970’s, local musicians, under the guidance of Peter Neary, revived the adult band winning at Mayo and Connacht Fleadh Cheoil in 1978. A branch of CCE was set up in 1995. Currently the branch offer classes in all traditional instruments and cater for all ages. They have Céilí bands at Under-12, 12-15, 15-18 and Senior level. Individuals and groups have participated in competitions in Scór, Readoirí, Fleadhanna Cheoil and Slogadh and have won at various levels including All-Ireland.
The Bofield Céilí band launched a book on the history of music in the area ‘Gort na mBó - A Century of Song, in 2002, with an accompanying CD, ‘100 Years A-Growing’.
They have played for local and national radio and TV, and most recently featured on Céilí House on 29th June 2019
The Bofield CCE branch, host seissiún nights in July and August in the Fr. Peyton Centre in Attymass, showcasing local and visiting musicians, attracting large audiences. All are welcome.
