All Ireland Champions Knockmore a Big Hit at the Wild Duck
2014 All Ireland Céilí Band Champions, Knockmore Céilí Band, were the star attraction at a Concert in The Riverside Suite at The Wild Duck Inn in Portglenone on Friday night. Hosted by the local Portglenone Comhaltas Branch and supported by local acts, Portglenone CCE Junior Traditional musicians and Glenullen Scor Na nOg Set Dance group, the concert was a resounding success.
During the first half of the concert, Bean a Tí for the evening, Maire Darragh, and Branch Chairman, Eamon Graham, presented local musician, Robert Close, with his ‘Gradam’ Award for services to Traditional music. Portglenone Comhaltas Branch members, Geraldine Donnelly and Tony Convery, were also presented with their ‘Gradam’ Awards for Services to Portglenone CCE over the past 30 years.
The second half opened with the Knockmore Céilí Band being piped to the stage by James Andrews from McNeillstown Pipe Band to thunderous applause in recognition of their recent All-Ireland victory. A packed house witnessed a truly remarkable exhibition of Irish Traditional music. After the concert the musicians stayed in The Wild Duck Inn were a tremendous session followed with local musicians eager to join in which lasted to the wee small hours!
On Saturday well-attended workshops were held with members from the local Comhaltas groups from Portglenone and beyond taking part in a range of instrumental workshops led by the Knockmore Céilí Band members.
The festivities ended on Saturday night with the Singing Session held in ‘The Men’s Shed’ where singers from far and wide joined local vocalists in a wide medley of song well into the night.