Sligo Town Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann supported by Sligo County Council host The Fiddler of Dooney Competition. It is always held over the October Bank Holiday weekend.
The Senior Fiddler of Dooney Competition was won by 17 year old Laoise Kennedy from Nenagh, Co Tipperary. Laoise was presented with a cheque for €1,000 and a unique specially designed ceramic plaque designed by Sligo ceramicist Tom Callery.
It has been in existence since 1965 and attracts competitors from all over Ireland. The competition gets its name from the famous WB Yeats poem and has become a major event in the Sligo cultural calendar.
Laoise Kennedy was the star performer while runner up was Ellen O’ Gorman from Co Waterford while Anna McCarthy from Dublin took third place.
Previous winners of the Senior Competition include the well-known Ademar O’ Connor, Tara Breen, Bríd Harper and Manus McGuire.
The winner of the Junior u16 competition was Marcus Murphy from Limerick while the Ashling Murphy Memorial Scholarship to attend the week long Scoil Éigse at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann next year in Wexford was awarded to Galway girl Rachel Kelly.
Sligo Town CCE members, friends and an enthusiastic audience were once again treated to a wonderful display of excellent fiddle playing from many of Ireland’s talented young fiddle players at the 2024 Fiddler of Dooney. The standard of competition is always excellent with musicians travelling from far and wide to attend. The role of previous winners reads like a who's who of traditional fiddling and includes Ademar O’ Connor, Matt Cranitch, Cathal Hayden, Bríd Harper, Liz Kane, Paddy Glacken, Seamus and Manus McGuire.
Winners of The Fiddler of Dooney Competition 2023
Junior Competition Winners
1st Place: Sarah Kelly, Co. Cork.
2nd Place: Seánna Donohoe, Co. Longford.
3rd Place: Senan Doyle, Co. Tyrone.
Senior Competition Winners
1st Place: Ademar O'Connor, Co. Offaly.
2nd Place: Aodh Mac Murchaidh, Co. Armagh.
3rd Place: Danú Mc Kinney, Co. Armagh.
