ATLANTA IRISH MUSICIANS NAMED 2018 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Students Qualify for World Competition in Ireland
Atlanta, GA, May 14, 2018: Members of Irish Traditions Atlanta participated in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil held in St. Louis, Missouri May 11-13 and brought home 10 awards, with 2 First Place medals across solo and ensemble competitions. The event is one of two traditional Irish Music competitions in America where qualifying entrants are eligible to compete in the world competition, Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann 2018 held in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland during the week of August 12 - 19, 2018.
“Irish Traditions Atlanta are ǀery proud of all our musicians that competed in the competition this year, said Teresa Finley, Board Chair of Irish Traditions Atlanta. “Our musicians have achieved top placement in the All-Ireland in previous years putting Atlanta on the map as a city steeped in the Irish traditions! We thank The Hibernian Benevolent Society and the Irish Network of Atlanta who are supporting our musicians with financial awards to enable the competitors to travel to Ireland this year.”
Competitions are divided into age categories and include solo performances as well as various ensembles and a 1st or 2nd place award qualifies to compete in Ireland. Six musicians qualified for solo competitions and one duet ensemble will also compete in Ireland.
Last year, Patrick Finley won the All-Ireland under-18 fiddle slow air competition and in 2016 took first in the overall fiddle competition in the same age group. Hollie Greenwood took two 3rd Place awards in both the Fiddle and Fiddle Slow air under 18 All-Ireland competition in 2017.
Irish Traditions Atlanta is a branch organization of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Irish Traditions awards scholarships to students of Irish traditional music and song annually and organizes IrishFest Atlanta . Atlanta’s award-winning musicians will be performing at IrishFest Atlanta October 26th and 27th, 2018 along with internationally renowned performance groups. Information on the festival can be found on its website at www.irishfestatlanta.org.
