Seventh heaven for Senior Fife All-Ireland Champions Maghery Fife & Drum Band

The Maghery Band Academy’s Senior Fife & Drum Band’s dream to go beyond their six in a row came to fruition when they gained their seventh consecutive All-Ireland title in Mullingar on Sunday.

The senior band in cream and green returned to defend their title which was quite anticipated considering the competition. The band travelled to Mullingar on Saturday and performed on the streets for Fleadh goers before making their way to stay at The Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise.

There they were invited to perform at a wedding that was underway which was a wonderful surprise for wedding guests and the bride and groom. They also collaborated with Ciaran Maguire of the Maguire O’Shea Academy School of Dancing, London playing for the former Riverdance, Dancing on Dangerous Ground & Magic of the Dance as he performed a dance for hotel guests and the band itself.

The band then returned to Cusack Park on Sunday to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann marching bands competition. The band are no strangers to success as they won an International title for Best Drill back in March at Limerick’s International Band Championship and then won their fourth consecutive title at Dungloe’s Main St Competition.

The band's performance in Mullingar was hit by the only rain that befell on the day. The members were commended for their dedication as they continued to perform their entertaining routine without even as much as a wipe of a brow.

The band are used to performing under the scrutiny of judges which is made all the more challenging when the elements are at play. The rain for them made their music all the sweeter and added to their dramatics as cymbal clashes splashed sprayed water across the arena.

It was brilliant to see the return of several bands to the Fleadh this year. The competition organisers had invited bands to a performance-only section for the first time this year to encourage bands’ attendance but all bands that attended competed as they strived to gain an All-Ireland title.

In second place was another Maghery Band. Fondly known under the moniker The Old Band this Senior band is a band containing members from previous years throughout the band's 78 years of history. The parade that followed the results saw the sun shine down on the All Ireland Champions and their Second place Band Buoin Cheoil an Machaire.

The Senior Maghery Band gave a very entertaining display for spectators which promoted their competition performance giving snippets of their renowned drill and musical abilities.  The band will be in attendance at Glenties Harvest Fair on Sunday September 10 and look forward to performing for the crowds there. The future remains to be very exciting for this band and they look forward to their autumn winter training schedule.