Fiddler of London Diaspora Prize is presented

Local and international connections linked up at the Fleadh Cheoil 2022 Overseas Concert in the Mullingar Park Hotel last Saturday evening, as an award launched in memory of a Westmeath man in London was presented to a fiddler from New Mexico.

The ‘Fiddler of London’ award was launched in London in late 2020 in memory of Justin Whelehan, a native of Killucan, who passed away in October 2019.

The winner of the award was Úna McGlinchey of Fintona CCÉ in Tyrone, who received her prize last March, while a special Diaspora Prize was awarded to Grace Broadhead from New Mexico, who received it in Mullingar at the Overseas Concert on Saturday night.

Both girls performed together on Gig Rig 2 last Friday night.

Presenting the Diaspora Prize to Grace on Friday night was Justin’s widow, Eilish, who attended the Fleadh with her daughter Olivia and son Christy.

Describing her late husband as a “stalwart” of the London Irish music scene, Eilish said that she had often discussed the concept of a ‘Fiddler of London’ award with Justin before his untimely death.

The Diaspora Prize was an outcome of the Covid-era virtual component of the competition, when online entries were received from fiddlers as far afield as America and Japan.

Eilish was delighted to have the opportunity to present the prize at the fleadh in Mullingar, an appropriate location given Justin’s Westmeath heritage.