A great crowd gathered in the Pikers Lodge Gowna on Friday night February 9 for the John Dungan Comhaltas annual awards ceremony to recognise the brilliant achievements of its members at Fleadh 2023. The event saw 56 of the branch’s musicians and dancers recognised for their success at the Longford Fleadh in April 2023, while an amazing 24 of them went on to further success at the Leinster Fleadh in Dublin, with a further 10 of these going on to claim medals at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO The ten All Ireland medallists were made up of nine young dancers claiming a 3rd place (Full Mixed Set Dancing, St. Guasachts) and one of the branch’s musicians picking up an All-Ireland Title in Mullingar. The wonderful Cavan Box player Fergus Bogue was on hand on the night to play a few tunes. Fergus is a virtuoso of the button accordion; his mastery of the instrument has captivated audiences worldwide. Fergus also presented 32 of the branch’s winners from the Longford Fleadh with a beautiful silver custom handmade pin from the wonderful Piece Makers in Co. Derry. The small but mighty adornment included the branch’s logo and serves as a wearable expression of the winner’s passion for traditional Irish music. Handcrafted, the pin possesses a unique charm and character that represents the North Longford CCE branch. The Branch’s own Elaine Reilly who is one of the foremost tenor banjo players of her generation and in high demand as an accomplished and much sought-after performer and tutor, presented each of the branch’s 24 Leinster Fleadh winners with a beautiful gold custom handmade pin from Piece Makers. Elaine also presented the Branch’s nine young All Ireland dancers; Lorcan Flynn, Jennifer Drake, James McDonagh, Caoimhe Corbett, Riona Drake, James Denneny, Oisin Reilly, Kate Cadam and Sean Costello with a specially made commemorative plaque to mark their achievement at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar. Co. Offaly’s Attracta Brady presented the branch’s
PICTURES | Longford Fleadh winners from John Dungan CCÉ honoured at presentation night
Caption: Sisters Ava Donohoe (guitar) and Seanna Donohoe (fiddle) John Dungan CCÉ branch presentation night to honour all of their branch members that were placed in the 2023 County Fleadh, Leinster Fleadh and All-Ireland Fleadh which took place in Mullingar
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Caption: Fergus Bogue playing the accordion
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Caption: Geraldine Hynes, Sara-Jane Sheridan, Saidbh Flynn, Erin Flynn, Chantel Higgins, Roisin Grant, Cadhlagh Browne and Etain Higgins (*missing from picture Roisin Greene) at the John Dungan CCÉ branch presentation night in the Pikers Lodge, Gowna. The John Dungan CCÉ branch look forward to hosting the Longford County Fleadh in Granard from April 5 - 7 this year
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Caption: Maria Ledwith (Guitar), Attracta Ni Bhradaigh (Fiddle), Aoibheann Lynch (Button Accordion), Elaine Reilly (Banjo) and Fergus Bogue (Button Accordion) in the Pikers Lodge, Gowna
