Over 600,000 people thronged the streets of Wexford over nine days, while tens of thousands of people attended the special opening by President Michael D Higgins. The town pulsed with Irish rhythm and revelry as age-old traditions were celebrated by new generations and the vibrancy of the Fleadh emanated throughout the streets.
Every year, the Fleadh provides a cultural meeting place for those who carry the great traditions of Irish music, song and dance in their hearts.
At the core of the Fleadh are the competitions that see traditional musicians, dancers, singers and story tellers of all ages and backgrounds competing at All-Ireland level, following victories at regional competitions.
Cillian Cullen, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman, 1st Place All Ireland Winner of the Business Supplies Trophy for Mandolin (over 18 years) at the 2024 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford. Photo: Anna Allen Photography Mullingar
Up to 20,000 performers played, sang and danced at the All Ireland Fleadh. The standards were high and the music more than lived up to the expectations of judges who had a very difficult job choosing winners for each category and competition.
It was a great week for Wexford competitors, with musicians and dancers from the Model County notching up numerous first, second and third-place finishes across a number of categories.
Mia Redmond, CCÉ, Tuaisceart Loch Garman, Loch Garman, 3rd Place All Ireland Winner of the Brendan Gaughran Cup for Piano (12 – 15 years) at the 2024 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford. Photo: Anna Allen Photography Mullingar
Councillor Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council said: “It has been a great honour to host this fantastic event in Wexford town for the first time. What a privilege to showcase our town in the heart of sunny south east to a global audience. I would like to thank everyone from the many voluntary groups to the visitors to the people of Wexford, and I sincerely hope that everybody had a wonderful, safe and happy time in our town and county.”
Evan O’Grada, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman, 2nd Place All Ireland Winner of the Pure Fresh Dairies Cup for Accompaniment on the Bouzouki (15 – 18 years) with accompaniment by Florence Donohoe at the 2024 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford. Photo: Anna Allen Photography Mullingar
He continued, “It has been such a pleasure to host the Fleadh this year and we certainly are looking forward to 2025. Memories have been made that will last a lifetime and the legacy of the Fleadh is the increased interest in traditional Irish music, song and dance that will last for generations to come.”
Michelle Ní Ghráda, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman, 3rd Place All Ireland Winner of the Granville Cup for Harp Slow Airs (over 18 years) at the 2024 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford.Photo: Anna Allen Photography Mullingar
Scoil Éigse, the official summer school organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, ran throughout the week with up to 800 Irish and international students of all ages taking part in various music, singing, dancing and Irish language classes.
Éibhin O’Dwyer (Concertina), Robert Moran (Flute), Sophie Bennett (Fiddle) of CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman, 3rd Place All Ireland Winner of the Deirdre Rooney Memorial Cup (under 12 years) at the 2024 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford. Photo: Anna Allen Photography Mullingar
Wexford has been chosen to host the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from August 3-10 next year. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) announced that the bid by the town to host the Fleadh for the second year in a row has been a success.
It will be the fifth and now sixth time the southeast county has hosted the popular festival, which is the world’s largest celebration of Irish trad music, language, songs and dance. The last time the Fleadh Cheoil was held in Co Wexford was in 2000, in Enniscorthy.
Full list of Wexford winners:
10C Bainseó / Banjo (15-18), 3rd place. Billy Cunningham, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
11D Maindilín / Mandolin (O18), 1st place. Cillian Cullen, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
12B Pianó / Piano (12-15), 3rd place. Mia Redmond, CCÉ, Tuaisceart Loch Garman, Loch Garman,
12C Pianó / Piano (15-18), 3rd place. Grainne Ní Chuinneagáin, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
15C Tionlacan / Accompaniment (15-18), 2nd place. Evan O’Grada, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
17D Drumaí Céilí / Céilí Drums (O18), 3rd place. Tomás Ó Toibín, CCÉ, Tuaisceart Loch Garman, Loch Garman,
22D Foinn Mhalla, Cruit / Harp Slow Airs (O18), 3rd place. Michelle Ní Ghráda, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
26C Grúpaí Ceoil (15-18), 3rd place. Craanhill, CCÉ, Tuaisceart Loch Garman, Loch Garman,
29F Bannaí Máirseála, Rogha Ghléas / Miscellaneous Marching Bands (Faoi 18), 2nd place. Craobh Chaoimhím Naofa, CCÉ, Craobh Chaoimhín Naofa, Loch Garman,
32B Amhránaíocht ar an Sean Nós (Fir) / Irish Singing (Men) (12-15), 3rd place. Seán Ó Caomhánaigh, CCÉ, Craobh Loch Garman, Loch Garman,
34B English Singing (Men) / Amhráin Bhéarla (Fir) (12-15), 1st place. Seán Ó Caomhánaigh, CCÉ, Craobh Loch Garman, Loch Garman,
35A Feadaíl / Whistling (Faoi 12), 1st place. Lainey Rossiter, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
35B Feadaíl / Whistling (12-15), 2nd place. Aoife Doyle, CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman,
35C Feadaíl / Whistling (15-18), 2nd place. Padraic O’Donoghue, CCÉ, Craobh Loch Garman, Loch Garman,
38E Newly Composed Songs in English / Amhráin Nuacheaptha, Béarla (Aon Aois/Any Age), 3rd place. Niall Wall, CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
40B Rince Céilí Ochtair, Mná / 8-Hand Céilí Dancing, Ladies (12-15), 2nd place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
41A Rince Céilí Ochtair, Measctha / 8-Hand Céilí Dancing, Mixed (Faoi 12), 1st place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
41A Rince Céilí Ochtair, Measctha / 8-Hand Céilí Dancing, Mixed (Faoi 12), 3rd place. CCÉ, Craobh Chaoimhín Naofa, Loch Garman,
42B Rince Céilí Ceathrair, Mná / 4-Hand Céilí Dancing, Ladies (12-15), 2nd place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
43A Rince Céilí Ceathrair, Measctha / 4-Hand Céilí Dancing, Mixed (Faoi 12), 3rd place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
43C Rince Céilí Ceathrair, Measctha / 4-Hand Céilí Dancing, Mixed (15-18), 2nd place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
46F Rince Leathsheit Measctha / Half Set, Mixed (Faoi 18), 3rd place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
47L Rince Seit, Measctha, Os cionn 35 / Full Set, Mixed, O35 (O35), 3rd place. CCÉ, Enniscorthy, Loch Garman,
24A Ceol Trír / Trios (Faoi 12), 3rd place. CCÉ, Bannow, Loch Garman – Éibhin O’Dwyer, Robert Moran, Sophie Bennett, Loch Garman