Hitting the traditional high notes at Ballymena Festival

The vice-chairman of the Festival Jack Regan gave the welcome address and introduced the Mayor, Councillor James Currie, who officially opened the event at 10.30a.m.

The adjudicator was Mr John Duffin from Swatragh and the packed audience enjoyed a day of traditional music performed by a wide range of competitors to a high standard.

Organisers said it was particularly pleasing to have such large numbers of junior competitors at the event during which the Festival bursaries were awarded to Emma Mulholland (fiddle) and Bronagh McIlfatrick (voice and miscellaneous instruments).

Class 170Traditional Fiddle Primary School age - 1, Shane Sweeney; 2, Anna-Maria O’Donnell; 3, Caitlin McPeake.

Class 171Tin Whistle Primary School age - 1, Julie Bogan; 2, Lorcan Darragh; 3, Caimhe O’Kane.

Class 172Miscellaneous Instruments, Primary School age,( excluding fiddle, flute, harp and tin whistle) - 1, Catherine Dougan; 2, Lorcan Darragh.

Class 173Traditional Singing, Primary School age - 1, Bronagh McIlfatrick; 2, Carla McPeake; 3, Caiomhe O’Kane.

Class 174Instrumental Group, Primary school age - 1, Shane and Nicole Sweeney and Julie Bogan; 2, Grace and Catherine Dougan, Bronagh McIlfatrick and Emma McLaughlin; 3, Maitiu Cairns, Newbridge CCE

Class 175Traditional Fiddle 14 and under Novice – those who have never competed in any Traditional competition before - 1, Aisling McCool; 2, Shauna Kelly.

Class 176Traditional Fiddle ,Post Primary and under 14 - 1, Karl Sweeney; 2, Hugh O’Donnell.

Class 177Tin Whistle, Post Primary and under 14 - 1, Laura Bogan.

Class 178Trad. Singing, post-primary and under 14 - 1, Emma Lusby; 2, Maebh Mc Ilvenny; 3, Aoife Mullan and Megan McGrellis.

Class 180Harp, under 14 - 1. Andrea Mulvenna; 2, Anita McKeown; 3, Erin Mullan, Michaela Mulvennna; HC, Sophie Rose Allen.

Class 181 Banjo/ Mandolin under 14 years - 1, Karl Sweeney; 2, Alexander Meyer.

Class 18Traditional Singing 14 and over - 1, Bronagh O’Kane.

Class 182Traditional Fiddle 14 and over - 1, Emma Mulholland; 2, Padraic Mulholland.

Class 183Tin Whistle, 14 and over - 1, Roisin McCloskey; 2, Bronagh McKeown, Aoife Coyle.

Class 184Bodran, open - 1. Michael Og McCloskey.

Class 185Instrumental Duets, Two different instruments - 1. Hugh and Anna Maria O’Donnell.

Class 186Miscellaneous Solo instrument, Post primary - 1, Roisin McCloskey.

Class 187Instrumental Group - 1, McCloskey Family.

Class 188Flute over 14/Adult - 1, Riosin McCloskey.

Class 189Harp 14 and over - 1, Michael Og McCloskey.

Class 190Trad. Fiddle Slow Air, 14 and over - 1, Emma Mulholland.

Class 191Fiddle Sacred Solo or Carol - 1, Jim Kyle; 2, Emma Mulholland.

Class 192Traditional Fiddle Championship 18 and over - 1, Johnny Murphy.

Overall Awards

The Cecil Colville Challenge Cup for the competitor showing most promise in Traditional Fiddle – Shane Sweeney

Sandy Spence Shield for the competitor showing most promise in Tin Whistle playing – Roisin McCloskey

McIlhatton Trophy Highest Aggregate marks in Senior Classes – Emma Mulholland

Festival Awards Two bursaries of 50 awarded to the competitors who in the opinion of the Adjudicator show most promise

Awarded to - Emma Mulholland, Bronagh McIlfatrick.