Talented sisters set to represent Derry in Ulster Fleadh

Having enjoyed great success at Fleadh Dhoire, two talented Derry Trad musicians will be representing the county in Fleadh Uladh in Warrenpoint.

Sisters Mollai and Dearbhla Mac Lochlainn, also won gold at the recent Feis Charn Tóchair 2025 - an event celebrating the culture and revival of the language in County Derry.

Fleadh Uladh will take place from July 20 to July 27; Mollai will be taking part in the Bodhrán competition and Dearbhla will be taking part in both the under 12 Whistle and the under 12 Whistle Slow Airs competitions.

Mollai Mac Lochlainn who came 1st in the Whistle and 1st in Whistle Slow Airs in Fleadh Dhoire.

Dearbhla’s love of the Whistle emerged two years ago, when her sister enrolled in the Bodhrán masterclass at Belfast Tradfest - Ireland’s fastest growing summer school of traditional music.

To keep Dearbhla from being bored, her family enrolled her in the Whistle and Sing class for very young children who never played Whistle before.

When they returned to pick her up, they were told Dearbhla could play the Whistle.

Her family thought the tutor had made a mistake and were talking about another child named Dearbhla!

Dearbhla MacLochlainn who came 1st in the Bódhran in Fleadh Dhoire 2025 and in An Tochair Feis.

When they went into the classroom, Dearbhla was playing a tune along with one of the teachers and by the next day she was playing ‘Off to California’ and other tunes as if she'd been playing for months.

Dearbhla now takes Whistle classes with Katriona Meehan (CCE Baile Na gCalleach) and Shania Holland (Acadamh Ceoil) and receives tips and competition advice from Ciaran Carlin.

Derry will have its fingers crossed that Mollai and Dearbhla will make it to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025 in Wexford.