Ulster Fleadh success with 47 Donegal qualifiers for Fleadh Cheoil
Ulster Fleadh took place in Warrenpoint, ahead of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast
Musicians, dancers, and storytellers from Donegal competed at the 2026 Ulster Fleadh, held in Warrenpoint, earning 47 qualification entries into Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, hosted by Belfast in August.
During the week of July 19 to 26, 12 representatives from Donegal won their categories to be declared Ulster Fleadh champions, with one category dominated by a top-three placing, all from Donegal.
Jonathan O’Gallachóir from Ard an Rátha CCÉ won the u12 Scéalaíocht competition, with comhaltas stablemate, Erin Ní Ghallachóir, placing second, and Cassie Nic Grianna, of Loch an Iúir CCÉ, finishing third.
Iarla Sweeney, of Mín na Croise CCÉ, was the lead Donegal competitor, qualifying for five national competitions after winning the u12 Whistle Slow Airs category, placing second in the u12 Whistle, Flute, and Flute Slow Airs categories, and coming third in the u12 Miscellaneous competition.
Joseph Armstrong of Sheosaimh Tréanlámhaich CCÉ, qualified for three events in the over-18 categories, in Uillean Pipes, Whistle and the Flute.
Ultán O’Dónaill of Rann na Feirste CCÉ, Oisín McGrath of the Phil Rooney CCÉ, and Dearbhla Ní Dheoráin of Na Cealla Beaga CCÉ qualified for two competitions each.
O’Dónaill placed second in the Irish Singing (Men u12) and qualified in the Comhrá Gaeilge 11-13 category. McGrath placed second in the Miscellaneous 15-18 competition and third in the Mandolin 15-18 category, and Ní Dheoráin came second in the 15-18 Scéalaíocht competition and qualified in the Comhrá Gaeilge 15-18 category.
Frosses CCÉ earned a double victory in Céili Dancing, with over-18 ladies winning the eight-hand competition, and the 15-18 age group winning the four-hand competition.
Donegal enjoyed success in the marching band competition, with a treble celebration. Buíon Cheoil Mullachdubh won the over-18 Flute Marching Band, whilst the Ramelton Town Band were declared champions of the Miscellaneous Marching Band competition. Banna Cheal Chloich Cheann Fhaola of Cloich Cheann Fhaola CCÉ retained their U18 Miscellaneous Marching Band title.
Other Donegal-based winners include Annie Ní Churrain of Leitir Ceanainn CCÉ in the Ladies Irish Singing, and Séarlas Ó Baoill of Oileán Thoraí in the Male 12-15 Irish Singing. Brian Mac Aodha of Doiri Beaga won the Male 15-18 Irish Singing; Shannan McKinley of Letterkenny won the 12-15 Ladies English Singing; and Jessica O’Donnell of Lifford won the 12-15 Piano Accordion.
A full list of Donegal-based qualifiers for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 in Belfast from August 2 to August 9 can be seen below.
Ulster Fleadh 1st Place:
U12 Scéalaíocht - Jonathan O’Gallachóir - Ard an Rátha CCÉ
U12 Whistle Slow Airs - Iarla Sweeney - Mín na Croise CCÉ
12-15 Irish Men Singing - Séarlas Ó Baoill - Oileán Thorai CCÉ
12 -15 English Ladies Singing - Shannan McKinley - Letterkenny
12-15 Piano Accordion - Jessica O’Donnell - Lifford
15-18 4-hand Céilí Dancing Ladies - Frosses CCÉ
15-18 Irish Men Singing - Brian Mac Aodha - Doiri Beaga CCÉ
U18 Miscellaneous Marching Bands - Banna Cheal Chloich Cheann Fhaola - Cloich Cheann Fhaola CCÉ
O18 Flute Marching Band - Buíon Cheoil Mullachdubh
O18 Miscellaneous Marching Bands - Ramelton Town Band
O18 8-hand Céilí Dancing Ladies - Frosses CCÉ
Irish Ladies Singing - Annie Ní Churrain - Leitir Ceanainn CCÉ
Ulster Fleadh 2nd Place:
U12 8-hand Céilí Dancing Ladies - Phil Rooney CCÉ
U12 Irish Men Singing - Ultán O’Dónaill - Rann na Feirste CCÉ
U12 Scéalaíocht - Erin Ní Ghallachóir - Ard an Rátha CCÉ
U12 Whistle - Iarla Sweeney - Mín na Croise CCÉ
U12 Flute - Iarla Sweeney - Mín na Croise CCÉ
U12 Flute Slow Airs - Iarla Sweeney - Mín na Croise CCÉ
12-15 Irish Men Singing - Jack Bonar - Mín na Croise CCÉ
12-15 Irish Ladies Singing - Áine Meehan - Mín na Croise CCÉ
12-15 Miscellaneous - Ruairí McBride - Leitir Ceanainn CCÉ
12-15 Scéalaíocht - Cara Ní Ghallachóir - Ard an Rátha CCÉ
12-15 Fiddle Slow Airs - Fiadh Davies - Seamus Mac Giolla Bhríde CCÉ
12-15 Storytelling - Ollie Glendinning - Min na Croise CCÉ
12-15 English Men Singing - Éanna Redden - Béal Leica CCÉ (Fermanagh) (Donegal)
12-15 Piano Accordion - Darragh McGonigle - Seamus Mac Giolla Bhríde CCÉ
15-18 Scéalaíocht - Dearbhla Ní Dheoráin - Na Cealla Beaga CCÉ
15-18 Melodeon - Daithí Sheerin - Phil Rooney CCÉ
15-18 Miscellaneous - Oisín McGrath - Phil Rooney CCÉ
O18 4-hand Céilí Dancing Ladies - Frosses Team A - Frosses CCÉ
O18 Uilleann Pipes - Joseph Armstrong - Sheosaimh Tréanlámhaich CCÉ
O18 Whistle - Joseph Armstrong - Sheosaimh Tréanlámhaich CCÉ
Ulster Fleadh 3rd Place:
U12 Irish Men Singing - Christian Ó Gallachóir - Ard an Rátha CCÉ
U12 Scéalaíocht - Cassie Nic Grianna - Loch an Iúir CCÉ
U12 Miscellaneous - Iarla Sweeney - Mín na Croise CCÉ
U12 Fiddle Slow Airs - Bríana McLaughlin - Seamus Mac Giolla Bhríde CCÉ
U12 Duets - Maia O’Reilly and Róise McGrath - Phil Rooney CCÉ
15-18 Fiddle Slow Airs - Micháel McGrath - Phil Rooney CCÉ
15-18 Mandolin - Oisín McGrath - Phil Rooney CCÉ
O18 4-hand Céilí Dancing Ladies - Frosses Team B - Frosses CCÉ
O18 Fiddle Slow Airs - Caoilinn Diver - Seamus Mac Giolla Bhríde CCÉ
O18 Flute - Joseph Armstrong - Sheosaimh Tréanlámhaich CCÉ
Newly Composed Tunes - Eileen Kane (The Ballyhanna Hornpipe) - Phil Rooney CCÉ
Qualified Comhrá Gaeilge:
9-11 - Cassie Nic Grianna - Loch an Iúir CCÉ
11-13 - Ultán O’Dónaill - Rann na Feirste CCÉ
13-15 - Cara Ní Ghallachóir - Ard an Rátha CCÉ
15-18 - Dearbhla Ní Dheoráin - Na Cealla Beaga CCÉ