VIDEO: Thomas proud to fly Westmeath flag at Fleadh 2022
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SS Caption Reverse:Thomas Wrafter at his SS Caption Reverse:home in Kilbeggan.Image 2 of 3
SS Caption Reverse:The Wrafter Family Band with SS Caption Reverse:Nathan Carter a few years ago.Image 3 of 3
SS Caption Reverse:Thomas Wrafter, left, and his brother Conor, who SS Caption Reverse:will be accompanying him on guitar at the fleadh.It is perhaps no surprise that Thomas Wrafter of Kilbeggan will be flying the flag for Westmeath in the 12-15 years bodhrán competition at this year’s fleadh.
Despite being only 13, Thomas, and the other members of the Wrafter Family Band (parents Peter and Noreen and siblings Conor and Aimee), have performed with some of the biggest names in Ireland music, including Finbar Furey, Nathan Carter, Johnny McEvoy and The High Kings.
Among other achievements, Thomas and his family have also performed on the Late Late Show and were finalists in the TG4 show Réalta Agus Gaolta in 2019.
A student at the Mercy Secondary School in Kilbeggan, where he will be entering second year in September, Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist and an accomplished singer who has music running through his veins.
In fact, if he becomes All-Ireland champion, he will be following in the footsteps of his grand uncle Danny Coughlan from Offaly, the late brother of his granny Kathleen, who won the All-Ireland accordion title in 1958, in Longford.
Thomas, who also plays football for Kilbeggan Shamrocks and hurling with Castletown Geoghegan, and does a bit of farming with his father, is looking forward to following in the footsteps of his illustrious relative. A regular visitor to fleadhs with his family before Covid, Thomas is excited about competing for the first time. He will be accompanied by his older brother Conor on guitar, which makes co-ordinating practice times a lot less hassle.
Thomas, who got his first bodhrán from Santy when he was five or six and plays with his family nearly every night, says he is honoured that he will be flying the flag for Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas and Westmeath at the first fleadh to be held in Westmeath in nearly 60 years.
“I am delighted to get the experience to be an All-Ireland. I hope it will go well. It’s in my home county so it’d be great.
“For my granny, it would be great for her if I won,” he told the Westmeath Examiner.
Thomas and his family will also be performing on one of the Gig Rigs on Wednesday before Friday’s competition.
“I am really looking forward to that as well, the whole lot of us as a family playing will be good – and the experience of another All-Ireland fleadh.
We’ve had a tough few years with Covid. It’s good to get back to the music to see everything again,” he said.