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Pride and pain as Buncrana come
second 28.08.08
Second for band in
all-Ireland Fleadh in Tullamore
MEMBERS of the Buncrana Youth Accordion Band felt a
mixture of pride and disappointment at the weekend
when they took a highly creditable second place in
the 57th Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Tullamore.
The band had travelled to Tullamore having tasted
all-Ireland success for the past two years, but
despite a fine performance they were pipped for 1st
place this time around.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent, Siobhan Lynch
who travelled to Tullamore with the band, said they
had been initially disappointed, but had since
realised that second place is not a bad result.
“Having won the competition for the last two years
it was a little bit disappointing not to take top
spot again, but second place in the all-Ireland is
not a bad result. There are plenty of bands out
there who would love to have finished as high as us
so it’s not all bad.” |
Indeed the band has
shown remarkable consistency over the past number of
years and their performances have resulted in them
capturing numerous Ulster and Donegal titles and
three all-Ireland crowns.
The band performed a routine put together by
teachers Finnian Drumm, Eileen McLaughlin and Barney
Hasson that had earlier |
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in the summer had
earned them the Ulster crown in Castlewellan, but on
this occasion it was just not to be.
Still, the forty-five strong group were in good
spirits as they made the long trip home yesterday,
buoyed no doubt by the thought of how they had
responded the last time they had finished in second
place in an all-Ireland final.
“We hadn’t won an all-Ireland for 22 years until we
won in 2004 in Clonmel. After that we came second in
Letterkenny but we bounced back from that and we won
again in Letterkenny and then again in Tullamore
last year,” Siobhan explained.
She praised the hard working members, committee and
supporters of the band for keeping the tradition
alive in Buncrana especially when all around the
country bands are folding.
“We heard at the weekend that another band in
Donegal - Fanad - will be seriously reduced next
year because they are losing so many members. From
that point of view we are really lucky because we
are very hopeful of holding on to most of our
members for the next few years at least - and of
course we are always keen to see new faces coming
along to join.”
Siobhan said that the success of the band over the
past few years was great reward for the hard work
put in by the members
“They are very dedicated and are great at attending
practice, and while we were disappointed at
finishing second I’m sure that will just mean we’ll
look to bounce back stronger next year,” she
concluded. (Inishowen Independent) |
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