All-Ireland Senior Céilí Bands competition in Mullingar on TV this weekend
A programme featuring the All-Ireland Senior Céilí Bands competition from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023 in Mullingar will be screened on TG4 on Sunday, January 14, at 9.30pm.
The programme, Fleadh 2023 - Na Bannaí Céilí, will feature all 11 of the finalists that took part in the competition at the Cathedral of Christ the King, and will also feature behind the scenes footage of the bands, as well as interviews, in what is the first time that the All-Ireland Senior Céilí Bands competition has featured in a highlights programme.
Presented by Fiona Ní Fhlaithearta of TG4, the programme includes performances from céilí bands from Ireland, Scotland and Australia, as the Melbourne Céilí Band took part in the Fleadh Cheoil for the first time.
It will feature The Grange from Camross - runners-up last year, and Glór na dTonn from Mayo, who finished third in 2022, as they sought to win the overall title against competition including Piper's Cross Céilí Band, also from Mayo.
Produced by Sligo-based production company Omedia, which live-streamed the full competition last summer, the programme will capture all of the excitement of the Senior Céilí Bands, the main Fleadh Cheoil competition which traditionally brings the Fleadh to a close every year.
The programme is a co-production between TG4 and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
The full list of bands that took part is:
Piper's Cross (CCÉ Cr. an Choisdellibhe, Róisín Bn Uí Cheallaigh, Maigh Eo/Mayo)
Glór na dTonn (CCÉ Scoil Acla, Maigh Eo/Mayo)
The Strand (CCÉ Mín na Croise, Dún na nGall/ Donegal)
The Grange (CCÉ Camross, Laois)
Cnoc an Óir (CCÉ Baile an Bhuinneánaigh, Ciarraí /Kerry)
Ard Eiscir Céilí Band (CCÉ Raitheann, Uíbh Fhailí /Offaly)
The Drombeg (An Léim, Corcaigh/ Cork)
Abhainn an Lagáin (Castlewellan, An Dún/Down)
Melbourne (CCÉ An Astráil/Australia)
St. James the Great (CCÉ Albain - Scotland)
St. Roch's (CCÉ Irish Minstrels, Albain /Scotland)