Local musician plays in senior céilí band competition

A fiddle player from Westmeath was competing in the biggest competition at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford last weekend.

Daniel Boland from Rosemount was one of the fiddle players in the Lissadell céilí band, who are based in Sligo. They qualified for the All-Ireland final when they were placed second at the Connaught Fleadh in Strokestown a number of weeks ago.

Daniel is a talented musician with numerous county, provincial and All-Ireland medals to his name. The young musician is the current chairperson of his Comhaltas branch in Ballymore.

The senior céilí band competition is the biggest event on the broad timetable at the Fleadh Cheoil and more than 2,000 spectators attend the event to witness the cream of the crop of traditional Irish music.

The Lissadell band were number nine on the clár and gave an excellent performance of their four tune selections in front of a large crowd in the Wexford Credit Union dome.

Despite an excellent performance the top honours were awarded to the Beartla Ó Flatharta céilí band from Kildare. Glór na dTonn of Mayo finished in second and Munster champions the Drombeg Céilí Band were awarded third place.