The closeknit community of Carrig-on-Bannow recently came together in the Carrig Community Centre to celebrate the great success of the Bannow C.C.É members at the recent Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast.

Local principal Áine Kennedy welcomed guests which included Fr Matt Boggan; Chairperson of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Frank Staples; Cllr Jim Codd; Manager and former Manager of the Rosslare Municipal District Anne Marie Laffan and Nóirín Cummins, and Wexford County Council Director of Services Eamonn Hore.

She thanked the RMD for their support and branch chairperson Flora Daly made a presentation to Nóirin as a token of appreciation and to mark the occasion of her retirement.

Presentations were made to the 12-15 Grúpaí Ceoil, All Ireland finalists and to the 2026 Gael Linn Siansa Finalists.

The Senior Grúpa Ceoil which took second place at the All-Ireland were delighted to be presented with their medals by Margaret O’Sullivan, branch secretary and Siobhán Codd, committee member.

Margaret Mernagh was on hand to present the Danescastle Fruit Farm Cup that was won earlier in the summer at the County Fleadh.

Those who were in attendance were treated to a host of music, performed by Fleadh Medal winners and the Siansa Group.

First to take the stage was the 12-15 group followed by individual medal winners: All Ireland Champions – Evelyn Gilbane (12-15 Flute and Whistle Airs), Florence Donohoe (Senior Whistle Airs), Lainey Rossiter (12-15 Whistling) and Aoife Colfer (Senior Lilting), Silver medal winners – Ellie Currid (12-15 Accompaniment) and Eve Donohoe (Senior Fiddle Airs) and bronze medal winners J.P. Harpur (U12 Whistling) and Áine Breen (15-18 Lilting).

Finally, the Senior Group gave a rousing performance of the set they performed in Belfast.

Before that, Áine remembered the late Martha Torpey who started many of the musicians on their musical journey and the late Leona Reville who was a former member of the group. Two tunes in memory of Leona, composed by Paul O’Sullivan and Cian O’Grady were performed.

The founder of Danescastle Music Group, Ms Torpey instilled a passion for traditional Irish music in generations of children in the Carrig on Bannow area and set the foundation for an enduring culture and tradition that is still surviving and thriving to this day.

Wexford’s ‘great lady of music’ taught all over Wexford with a young Colm Tóibín among her more famous past pupils.