Night of nostalgia celebrating 40 years of the Gold Ring Ceili Band in Armagh

Started by husband and wife team Sean and Patricia O’Neill, the Gold Ring Ceili Band was formed in September 1986.

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Sean, from the parish of Mullaghbrack near Markethill and Patricia, originally from Tullysaran outside Armagh City are both steeped in Irish traditional music playing a variety of instruments. Indeed Patricia is an All Ireland Champion harper.

Patricia has been a major part of the Harp revival culminating in it's position today in Irish music.

With Kathy Kelly, Anne Harvey, they make up the Gold Ring Ceili Band which has travelled across Ireland and beyond entertaining audiences with a variety of traditional Irish and folk music as well as Irish country and music.

It was Lurgan native Davy Lewsley who originally got Sean O’Neill and a few others to play in a ceili band back in the 1970s.

"Davy was one of a small group of people, in the 1970s and 1980s who met on a regular basis to re-establish dances that were almost lost. He was relentless in his devotion and did it for the love of the dancing and the Ceili,” said Sean.

"Ceili dancing today is indebted to him,” he said.

Back in the early days the original Gold Ring Ceili Band was made up of Martin Daly, Pat Fegan and Maureen McConville with, of course, Patricia Daly O'Neill and her husband Sean.

And, of course, Conn and Alice McParland from Markethill were also in the band.

Now 40 years later, the band is hosting a magnificent night of dancing and nostalgia to commemorate this milestone.

The event is in Armagh City Hotel on September 17, 2026 and hopes to welcome old and new friends of the band as well as special guests.

Not too many ceili bands still play so this is a perfect opportunity to catch one of the top bands providing dance music for Ceili, Country, Irish and Set dancing.

The band has played for a broad range of festivals and events including weddings over the decades with a solid fan base across the country.

Sean said: “The ‘Gold Ring’ are privileged to be able to celebrate so many years of playing music and meeting so many thousands of people along the way.

"If you have danced to the band in the past, been at one of their events, had them provide all the music on your wedding day, or maybe never heard them live before, you are invited to come along to Armagh and join in the celebrations.

"As many as possible of the past band members will be there on the night and will join the band for a few songs or tunes,” said Sean.

The group has a new 15 track album titled “Dancefloors and Potholes” will also be launched on the night.

The dance starts at Armagh City Hotel on September 17, at 8pm with doors opening at 7.30pm. Admission is just a token £5.