Stray Leaf Céilí Band among local winners at Ulster Fleadh

They may only have been formed in February of this year but it was certainly no barrier to locally based Stray Leaf Céilí Band who managed to take first place in the senior Céilí Band section at last weekend's Ulster Fleadh in Dromore, County Tyrone guaranteeing them a place at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Sligo next month. Check out and LIKE their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/strayleafceiliband

Inspiration for the band came from the passing of a dear friend and great lover of Ceili Bands, Caroline Judge Fegan and many of the band members met throughout 2014 for regular sessions in The Yellow Heifer in Camlough and O’Hanlons Bar in Whitecross. After a year of enjoying the session music the members felt the urge to revitalise the long tradition of Ceili Bands in the Armagh area and follow in the footsteps of some of the Armagh greats including the McCusker Brothers and the John Murphy Ceili Band.

The bands name links back to the famous Stray Leaf Folk Club, Mullaghbane founded by the late Mick Quinn. Members are Fiddles: Ursula Byrne Crawley, Una Devlin and Martina Murphy; Flutes: Kay Webster Dooley and Martha Guiney; Pipes: Claire Byrne; Concertina: Paul Quinn; Piano Accordion: Dean Warner; Piano: Elaine Byrne Cunningham and Drums: Brian Walsh.

Local Results

Fiddle 12-15: 1st Meabh McArdle, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua Comhaltas, An Dún

Button Accordion: rec U12 Pearse Óg McMahon, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Concertina U12: rec Oisín Bradley, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún

Mouth Organ O18: 1st Hugh Cox, CCÉ, Boirche, An Dún

Banjo U12: 1st Darragh Conway, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Mandolin U12: 1st Darragh Conway, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Mandolin 12-15: 2nd Annie Nic Gabhann, CCÉ, St Mochua’s, Keady, Ard Mhacha

Mandolin 15-18: 2nd Aislinn Fegan, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún

Accompaniment 15-18: 1st Aislinn Fegan, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; rec Cathal Ó Murchú, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha

Fiddle Slow Airs U12: 3rd Danú McKinney, CCÉ, St Mochua’s, Keady, Ard Mhacha

Miscellaneous 15-18: 1st Cathal Ó Murchú, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha; 2nd Niall Quinn, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; rec Méabh Nic Gabhann, CCÉ, St Mochua’s, Keady, Ard Mhacha

Bodhrán 15-18: 1st Alana Ní Fhloinn, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha; 2nd Aodhán O Fionnagaín, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Céilí Band Drums: 2nd Paul Rush, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Flute Slow Airs 15-18: 3rd Oisín McCann, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún

Flute Slow Airs O18: 2nd Martha Guiney, Newry, An Dún

Duets 15-18: 3rd Niamh Howell, Ruáirí Howell, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Trios U12: 3rd Darragh Conway, Iarla McMahon, Pearse Óg McMahon, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Trios 15-18: 1st Ciara Maguire, Matthew McAstocker, Niamh Howell, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Céilí Bands 15-18: 2nd Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún

Céilí Band O18: 1st The Stray Leaf Ceili Band, CCÉ, St Mochua’s, Keady, Ard Mhacha

Grúpaí Ceoil O18: 1st Caisleán Nua, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Accordion Marching Band U18: 1st Attical Junior Band,

Accordion Marching Band O18: 1st St Brigid’s Accordion Band, Jonesborough, Ard Mhacha

Sean Nós Singing, Irish Ladies 12-15: 1st Beth Taggart, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; 3rd Treasa McKinley, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún

Sean Nós Singing, Irish Men U12: 1st Pearse Larkin, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha

Sean Nós Singing, Irish Men 12-15: 2nd Tiarnan Conway, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Songs in English Ladies U12: 1st Cathleen Garland, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Songs in English Ladies 12-15: 1st Beth Taggart, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; rec Dearbhla Daly, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Songs in English Ladies 15-18: 2nd Niamh Daly, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Songs in English Men U12: 1st Pearse Larkin, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha; 3rd Jack Conway, CCÉ, Bonnán Buí, Ard Mhacha

Songs in English Men 12-15: 1st Gabhan Ó Gribbin, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; 2nd Tiarnan Conway, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Songs in English Men O18: 2nd Pearse McMahon, CCÉ, An Bonnan Bui, Ard Mhacha

Whistling U12: 1st Breandán Ó Suilleabhain, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha; 2nd Cathal Magee, CCÉ, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; 3rd Tara Howell, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Whistling 12-15: 1st Ruáirí Howell, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

 Whistling 15-18: 1st Tiarnán Mac Gabhann, CCÉ, St Mochua’s, Keady, Ard Mhacha

Newly composed song English Any Age: 2nd Terry Cowan, CCÉ, Caisleán Nua, An Dún

Newly Composed Tune Any Age: 1st Niamh Ni Ridlí, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha

4 Hand Céilí U12: 2nd Cumann Pheadair Naofa, Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, An Dún; rec Droichead Mhaigh Eo, Mayobridge, An Dún

4 Hand Céilí 15-18: 2nd Droichead Mhaigh Eo, Mayobridge, An Dún

4 Hand Céilí Mixed U12: 1st Ring of Gullion, CCÉ, Ring of Gullion, Ard Mhacha

4 Hand Céilí Mixed 12-15: 2nd Droichead Mhaigh Eo, Mayobridge, An Dún