Mayo céilí bands to feature in TG4 Fleadh competition programme

Two Mayo céili bands will feature on a one-hour programme on TG4 featuring the All Ireland Senior Céilí Bands competition from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023 in Mullingar.

The programme, Fleadh 2023 - Na Bannaí Céilí, will be screened on TG4 on Sunday, January 14 2024 at 9.30pm and feature The Glór na dTonn Céilí Band representing Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Scoil Acla in Achill and Piper's Cross representing CCÉ Croabh an Choisdellibhe, Róisín Bn Uí Cheallaigh.

The two Céilí Bands were among eleven of the finalists that took part in the competition at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar, 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 viewer will see and hear performances from céilí bands from Ireland, Scotland and Australia, with the Melbourne Céilí Band taking part in the Fleadh Cheoil for the first time.

The programme will feature The Grange from Camross - runners up last year, and Glór na dTonn, who finished third in 2022, as they seek to win the overall title in the face of stiff competition from bands from Donegal, Kerry, Mayo, Offaly, Down, Cork and elsewhere.

Produced by Sligo-based production company Omedia, which live streamed the full competition last summer, this 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).