Achill Pipe Band Crowned Connacht Fleadh Champions on Triumphant Return

Achill Pipe Band has been crowned Connacht Fleadh Pipe Band Champions, marking a remarkable return to Fleadh competition after an absence of almost a decade.

The Mayo band secured first place at the Connacht Fleadh Cheoil in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, on Sunday, earning qualification for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Belfast later this summer.  

The victory represents a significant milestone for the band, who only returned to playing together in recent months after several years away from Fleadh competition. Their last appearance on the Fleadh stage came following back-to-back All-Ireland Pipe Band titles in 2016 and 2017, achievements that cemented their place among Ireland’s leading pipe bands.  

It has been an encouraging weekend for the Achill musicians. On Saturday, the band travelled to Lucan for the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships, where they narrowly missed out on the prizes but produced a performance that showed the progress made since reforming earlier this year. Less than 24 hours later, they made the journey west to Mohill, where that progress was rewarded with Connacht honours and a return to the top of the Fleadh podium.

In a post following their victory, the band expressed their delight at securing qualification for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil and thanked everyone who supported them throughout the weekend.

The Connacht title is particularly special given the band’s history in the competition. Having previously gone on to lift consecutive All-Ireland Fleadh titles in 2016 and 2017, their return to the Fleadh has now begun in the best possible fashion, with another provincial crown and the opportunity to compete once again on the national stage in Belfast this August