Ennis ceoltóirí set their sights on the title

ENNIS group, Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach will be seeking a national title at the forthcoming Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann this weekend when they will compete in the céilí band competition at the Quinn Direct Dome in Cavan.
Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach is a 10-piece band formed five years ago and has pulled talents from across a varied age group from 19 onwards.
The group is comprised of two flute players, three fiddles, a banjo, accordion, concertina, piano and drums and half of the band members, Sinéad Heagney, Liam Ryan, Marie Quigney, Mike Butler and John Rynne, have performed with the world-famous Kilfenora Céilí Band.
They have had a number of successes in that time and won Ard Ghaisce na mBuíonta in 2007, which was the first year that competition was run. This year they took second place at the Ennis Trad Festival for a second time.
At this year’s All-Ireland event the band will be will be performing four selections of music, including a march, jigs, hornpipe and reels.
The group has also gone on to successes in the fleadh competitions, where they also got to the All-Ireland in 2008 taking third place following a first place finish in the Munster Fleadh that year. They lost out for the All-Ireland title last year but they secured first place in the Munster final again this year and are looking forward to the competition on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the group has said that the band enjoys the social element of the fleadh as well as the competitive aspect.
“It is a chance to meet musicians from all over the country, there is also a great sense of team spirit in competing as a band as opposed to being involved in the fleadh as a soloist. What we also enjoy thoroughly is playing music in the local pubs and seeing a new town each year being taken over by music, it’s a great feeling,” she said.
Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach is among many Clare competitors to take to Cavan for the All-Ireland Fleadh, including some underage bands, soloists and grupaí cheoil.
They will be taking to the senior céilí band competition stage on Sunday at 7.30pm at the Quinn Direct Dome in the Cavan Institute.
For more information about the fleadh visit www.fleadh2010.ie.