10 Years On: Cloughaneely Make It Back-to-Back All Ireland Titles

Ten years ago, Banna Cheoil Chloich Cheann Fhaola returned to the All Ireland Fleadh as reigning Junior Miscellaneous champions, looking to retain the title they had finally won the previous year.

There was a familiar opponent standing in their way.

Donegal Town Community Band had been the dominant force in the section in the years before Cloughaneely’s breakthrough. In 2013, Donegal Town won both the Ulster and All Ireland titles, with Cloughaneely finishing second on both occasions.

The following year Cloughaneely won the Ulster title, but Donegal Town once again had the final say at the All Ireland, with Cloughaneely finishing runner-up for the second consecutive year.

In 2015, the roles were reversed.

Donegal Town won the Ulster title, with Cloughaneely again finishing second, but when the two bands met at the All Ireland in the summer, Cloughaneely finally came out on top. The victory ended Donegal Town’s run of three consecutive All Ireland Junior Miscellaneous titles and gave Cloughaneely their first title in the section since 2009.

Twelve months later, the two Donegal bands were again first and second at the Ulster Fleadh, with Donegal Town taking the provincial title and Cloughaneely finishing runner-up.

The rivalry between Cloughaneely and Donegal Town stretched far beyond just the All Ireland Fleadh. From 2012 to 2018, the two bands competed against each other at every Donegal County Fleadh, Ulster Fleadh and All Ireland Fleadh, alongside numerous other competitions and events. Year after year, they found themselves battling for the top places, making it one of the most intense and sustained rivalries in the marching band competition during the period.

The All Ireland in Ennis in 2016 would produce the same two bands at the top — but once again it was Cloughaneely who had the final say.

Cloughaneely retained the Junior Miscellaneous All Ireland title, with Donegal Town finishing second and Miaghne Banna Máirseála from Tipperary taking third.

It was a significant achievement for the Cloughaneely band. Having spent several years chasing Donegal Town, they had now beaten their rivals at the All Ireland for the second year in succession.

The 2016 victory also meant Cloughaneely had won the title in consecutive years after previously taking the honours in 2008 and 2009.

And the rivalry wasn’t finished there. Cloughaneely returned to the All Ireland in 2017 and completed a hat-trick of Junior Miscellaneous titles, again finishing ahead of Donegal Town.

But 2016 was the year when Cloughaneely showed that their 2015 breakthrough was no one-off.

Despite losing the Ulster title to Donegal Town once again, they travelled to Ennis and successfully defended their All Ireland crown.

2016 was also an important milestone that cause the senior band to reform they came together as part of the homecoming for the junior band and after that decided to reform officially.

2016 All Ireland Fleadh – Junior Miscellaneous

🥇 Banna Cheoil Chloich Cheann Fhaola, Donegal
🥈 Donegal Town Community Band, Donegal
🥉 Miaghne Banna Máirseála, Tipperary