ARRIVING at this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na Breataine you could feel a sense of expectation and anticipation in the air. Attendance was well up with over 3,000 people thronging into Myerscough College in Preston, Lancashire.
The warm, sunny weather gave the impression more of a continental resort than a college campus. Competition highlights included set dancing, which is growing in popularity with 11 entries this year.
Scotland's Frank McArdle and his winning St Roch's céilí band took the senior céilí band title with 11 points, with Leeds in second place on seven points.
Michael Nevin, Cathoirleach of Comhaltas in Britain, spoke of how Comhaltas is now reaching out to a wider audience than ever before. “Comhaltas in Britain is now growing with renewed confidence with more and more young people in branch activities” he said. “Fleadh Cheoil na Breataine 2015 was a triumph for the organising Northern region of Comhaltas.”