Now that all this year’s provincial Fleadhanna is over we now have a full list of all the bands who have qualified from winning last year or through the provincial Fleadhs. Unfortunately there is only 11 bands currently competing and they may not show up. This could be a new record low for the Fleadh, although the numbers have been declining over the last few years.
The 2019 Full Fleadh Line up;
Junior Miscellaneous
– Baile Bhlainséir Marching Band Dublin
– Cloich Cheann Fhaola Junior ( Ulster Champions)
Junior Accordion
– K and S Accordion Band Meath
Senior Flute
-Maghery Fife and Drum Donegal
Senior Accordion
– No band will be competing
Junior Flute
– No Band has qualified
Senior Miscellaneous
– Cloich Cheann Fhaola Senior
– Donegal Town Band ( Ulster Champions)
– Ramelton Town Band (2nd Place Ulster)
– Foxford Brass and Reed Band (Connacht Champions
Pipe Bands
– Crimlin Batafada Pipe Band ( Connacht Champions)
– St Joseph’s Pipe Band Longstone (Ulster Champions) 
What is the point of some of these competitions when there is only one band in some of them? Seems pretty pointless and a hallow victory for the one band sections. I do not understand why they would waste their time and energy on what is now a dying competition.
Well firstly it isn’t the bands fault if there’s only one competitor that’s not up to them who they compete against. And secondly it isn’t a “hallow” victory as this as regarded by many as one of the most prestigious competitions in Ireland. These bands work hard all year they practicing 3 or 4 times a week, some first thing in the morning at 6am. They perform at a high enough standard that even if they were up against another band they would beat them. This competition goes back many years and it means a lot to so many people. This year’s senior miscellaneous competition is one of he biggest in many years and the junior miscellaneous also has a good competition and the pipes has two competitors. The only sections that are “pointless” are the Junior Accordion and Senior Flute. Maybe if you came along to one of these competitions you’d see how hard these bands have worked