10 Years On: Holy Cross Take Both Accordion Titles at the All-Ireland 2016

Holy Cross Accordion Band, Atticall enjoyed a remarkable day at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis in 2016, with the band taking home both the Senior and Junior Accordion titles.

The senior band were no strangers to success at All-Ireland level. Having already won the Senior Accordion title in 2010, 2011 and 2014, Holy Cross returned to the competition in 2016 looking to add another title to their record.

Holy Cross won the Senior Accordion competition, with St Brigid’s Accordion Band, Jonesborough finishing second both bands had been engaged in a nice rivalry throughout the previous decade.

There was further success in the Junior Accordion competition, where the Holy Cross junior band also took first place.

The junior title was particularly notable as it was the band’s first appearance at the All-Ireland Fleadh. Having won the Junior Accordion title at the Ulster Fleadh, the young Atticall band went on to claim the All-Ireland title in Ennis.

The result meant Holy Cross had won both Accordion sections at the same All-Ireland Fleadh — an achievement previously accomplished only by St Brigid’s Accordion Band in 2012.

For the senior band, the 2016 victory also marked the start of another successful period. Holy Cross retained the Senior Accordion title in 2017 before making it three in a row in 2018.

The 2016 Fleadh therefore produced a particularly memorable result for Atticall, with the senior and junior bands both returning from Ennis as All-Ireland winners.

2016 All-Ireland Fleadh – Accordion

Senior:
1st – Holy Cross Accordion Band, Atticall, Down
2nd – St Brigid’s Accordion Band, Jonesborough, Armagh

Junior:
1st – Holy Cross Junior Accordion Band, Atticall, Down

A memorable double for Holy Cross.