Ulster Fleadh is launched in Warrenpoint
The Youth Committee of Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, Warrenpoint Comhaltas, under the chairpersonship of Eimear Sloan, recently launched the 2026 Ulster Fleadh to a large audience in No7 Duke Street.
Members of the under-18 groups and bands, assisted by a few senior members of the branch, opened proceedings with some very tight arrangements of tunes which were very much appreciated by the enthusiastic crowd.
The versatility of the young musicians was further enhanced when 2026 County Champion, Elisha Rooney, stunned them into appreciative silence with a superb rendition of Sigerson Clifford’s ‘The Boys of Barr na Sraide’.
Spectators also said it was wonderful to see and hear the male singers in the group, again both 2026 County Champions, Matthew McKinney and Archie McDaniel, perform ‘Sweet Omagh Town’, a song long associated with Len Graham and indeed Co. Down’s own Graham winner, Roisin White.
Whilst headliners for the evening, Give It a Rattle, were setting up on stage, Eimear introduced 2026 Ulster Fleadh chairperson, Jimi Quinn, who congratulated the young musicians on their performance and thanked them for their support in preparations for Fleadh Uladh 2026, which will run from July 19-26 in Warrenpoint.
He encouraged everyone to keep up-to-date with all the Fleadh has to offer in the way of concerts, sessions, cultural, literary and community events, by visiting Ulster Fleadh 2026 online and by following the local press and radio.
Give it A Rattle, a band of highly-accomplished young musicians - comprising Cian Murphy, Tomas O Ceallaigh, Jude Quigg, Oisin Bradley, Rory McEvoy and Ciaran Maguire - then launched into an entertaining set of music and song.
Anyone who missed them at the launch will have another opportunity to hear them as they will be performing on the Ulster Fleadh Gig Rig in Warrenpoint Park.
The launch evening concluded in the Skylight Room with a large session.
After the event, organisers sent a “massive thank you” to the Youth Committee for all their hard work in setting up the Fleadh launch and extended “a big thank you” to No7 Duke Street for being “such wonderful hosts” for the occasion.