All-time All-Ireland Senior Flute Champs

Irish Flute
1

cross-posted from woodenflute list. Check out the 1965/66 winners. What a pair of years that must have been.
Odd…I always thought that Larry Nugent had won one year. Hmmm.

All-Ireland Senior Flute Champions


1951, Paddy Treacy, Galway
1952, Paddy Treacy, Galway
1953, Vincent Broderick, Galway
1954, Vincent Broderick, Galway
1955, Peter Broderick, Galway
1956, Peadar O’Loughlin, Clare
1957, Peadar O’Loughlin, Clare
1958, P.J. Maloney, Tipperary
1959, Michael Falsey, Clare
1960, Paddy Carty, Galway
1961, Paddy Carty, Galway
1962, Cathal McConnell, Fermanagh
1963, Paddy Carty, Galway
1964, Paddy Treacy, Galway
1965, Séamus Tansey, Sligo
1966, Matt Molloy, Roscommon
1967, John Brady, Offaly
1968, Mícheál Ó Halmhain, Dublin
1969, Mícheál Ó Halmhain, Dublin
1970, Billy Clifford, London
1971, P.O. Ceannabhain, Galway
1972, Patsy Hauley, Roscommon
1973, Eugene Nolan, Laois
1974, Josie McDermott, Sligo.
1975, Deirdre Collis, Sligo
1976, Peig McGrath Needham, Roscommon
1977, Pat Moloney, Limerick
1978, Tommy Guihan, Roscommon
1979, Marcus Hernon, Galway and Leon Agnew, Antrim (tie)
1980, Marcus Hernon, Galway
1981, Michael Hearty, Tipperary
1982, Noel Sweeney, Longford
1983, Paul Gallagher, London
1984, Siobhán O’Donnell, London
1985, Claire Burke, Offaly
1986, Sharon McDermott, Tyrone
1987, Pat Fitzpatrick, Wexford
1988, Garry Shannon, Clare
1989, Attracta Brady, Offaly
1990, Thomas McElhogue, Leeds
1991, Sharon Burke, London
1992, Martin Glynn, Clare
1993, Paul McGlinchey, Tyrone
1994, Paul McGlinchey, Tyrone
1995, Paul McGlinchey, Tyrone
1996, Majella Bartley, Monaghan
1997, Sandra Deegan, Carlow
1998, June McCormack, Sligo
1999, Tom O’Connor, Kerry
2000, Sarah-Jane Woods, Dublin
2001, Louise Mulcahy, Limerick
2002, Isaac Alderson, Chicago
2003, Aoife Ní Ghrainbhil, Kerry

2

I did a google search on Isaac Alderson – pretty cool story. Amazing really. I haven’t seen his name come up too often here, but it seems like he’s going on to pretty big time stardom if he keeps going like he is. I wonder if he’s a member?

Alan

3

Thanks, David – that’s truly fascinating!

4

I got to meet and play with Isaac in NYC last summer.
Very nice, and talented, young man.
He sessions fairly regularly at O’Neill’s (that the right name, Gordon?)

I should note that there’s a phenon player yet to be discovered nationally that I played with a bit about two years ago…in Milwaukee…young chap named Asher Grey. Look for him on that list in no time, I’d venture.

dm

5

Yup. Isaac and Asher are both awesome.
Chris

6

People say I’m awesome, but I’m not sure
they mean it as praise.

7

yeah, that punk isaac beat me on the whistle that year at the midwest qualifying fleah. was going to be my year, i say [uh, not.] but here is a bit of trivia: Isaac did not take first on whistle that year at the midwest fleadh. took second. Kathleen Keane took first. (me tied for third). interesting. he went uncontested on the flute (i decided to let him off easy :boggle:) i do happen to know what reel he played in the all-ireland competition though. twas ‘mossy banks’ i’m told, a fine tune indeed.

I also know what tunes Larry Nugent played for the three years he won. played the same ones each time. If anybody’s interested, let me know. yet i too for a long time was under the impression he’d won on flute too…

thanks for posting that, david. very interesting. would like to see the senior whistle champs list too…

Brendan

8

‘Attracta’

now there’s a name…

9

Hmm, I’m surpised at the number of people I thought would be on that list but aren’t… many names come to mind. Weren’t Mick Tubridy and Mick Flatley champs too? Maybe they one different age catagories or something.

You can put my name up for 2006 right now if you want… hehe

10

Well, I really wouldn’t think any less of Larry Nugent (or anyone else) whose name failed to make the list. It really doesn’t matter (to me) who wins. As most people know, it’s a silly competition anyway.

11

The info posted at the beginning of the thread is indeed incomplete. There are multiple categories. Besides age (under 12, 12-15, 15-18 and over 18), there are separate categories under each for Flute, and Concert Flute (Slow Airs), and probably some winners under Duets, Trios, Ceili Bands.

BTW, Joanie Madden won hers on Tin Whistle.

Also, more than one winner per category: As an example, 2003 flute All-Ireland winners:

  • Feadóg Mhór/Flute *
    Faoi 12
    Fergus McGorman, CCÉ, Cill Dheagláin, Co. na Mí
    Brian Ó Lochlainn, CCÉ, Cora Finne, Co. an Chláír
    Bríd Ní Shionnáin, CCÉ, Ail Finn, Co. Ros Comáin

12 - 15
Tara Breen, CCÉ, Doora Barefield, Co. an Chláír
Nicola Gillan, CCÉ, Loughbeg, Co. Aontroma
Christine Ní Dhoilphin, CCÉ Piobairí Uileann, Co. Áth Cliath

15 - 18
Micheál Mac an Rí, CCÉ, Tuar na Fola, Co. Luimnigh
James Mahon, CCÉ, Cr. Chualainn, CCÉ, Co. Ath Cliath
Ann Marie Grogan, CCÉ, Cill Dheagláin, Co. na Mí

Over 18
Aoife Ní Ghrainbhil, CCÉ, Cr. an Aghasaigh, Co. Chiarraí
Kevin O’Neill, CCÉ, Irish Minstrels, Scotland
Liam MacPiaras, CCÉ, Tuar na Fola, Co. Luimnigh

  • Feadóg Mhór - Foinn Mhalla/Flute Slow Airs *
    Faoi 12
    Catherine O’Grady, CCÉ, West London, Britain
    Séan Ó Maicín, CCÉ, Inis Córthaidh, Co. Loch Garman
    Orlaith McAuliffe, CCÉ, East London, Britain

12 - 15
Tara Breen, CCÉ, Doora Barefield, Co. an Chláir
Nicola Gillan, CCÉ, Loughbeg, Co. Aontroma
Ciadhra NicStápúil, CCE Cill a’Díoma, Co. na Gaillimhe

15 - 18
Cathal Mac an Rí, CCÉ, Tradraighe, Co. an Chláir
Aodhán Ó Neill, CCÉ, Dromore, Co. Thír Eoghain
Eilís Ní Fhaoleoige, CCÉ, Inis Córthaidh, Co. Loch Garman

Over 18
Maihdc Ó hÉanaigh, CCÉ, Magh Cuilinn, Co. na Gaillimhe
Louise Ní Chéitinn, CCÉ, Fearmhuí, Co. Chorcaí
Colette Ní Ghamhna, CCÉ, Cr. Coleman, Co. Shligigh


Kevin Krell

12

Yeah, but you don’t want to meet her sister, Buttuglia…

13

Sorry. Too much to drink last night. :tomato:

14

I think the results I quoted are including 1st, 2nd & 3rd places, like the Olympics.

Kevin Kell

15

The competition is not so much silly as it is a competition. All the people who place are good to great players. However, they are scored on established points for things that wouldn’t matter in any other context, and there is the inevitable politics, subjective judging and accepted precedences; Malloy, for eg, while he won an all-Ireland for flute, probably would have lost that competition if he’d played in the same innovative style we tend to appreciate and expect from him in a non-contest world. That he can not do all that and win a competition, is to his musical credit, but brilliance at the All Ireland is different than brilliance at Malloy’s pub.
Most of us – particularly in America (unless you’re familiar with similar American contests among fifers and fiddlers) – while we certainly appreciate and understand the concept of winning – bridle at the idea of competing for musicianship. Athletes, sure, but not music and art. The All-Ireland is a cultural thing I don’t completely get. It takes enormous skill and a deep grasp of the music and the instrument to compete and win such a contest, and kudos to young and old who have done so. But ultimately it doesn’t mean much, except as a biographical footnote.
Oh, and yes, David – it was O’Neills in NYC where we played with Isaac. I don’t see it listed on Sundays anymore, so Isaac may have since moved on to another pub, or left town. It’s about four degrees here in NYC – I’ll find out who’s still playing around town in, say, May or June…
Gordon

16

on my god, i’m having a hernia’s worth of laughter

17

Her flute playing, however, is impeccable - and John Brady’s her father.


Buttuglia, though, that was inspired! :smiley: :laughing:

18

I have to say i always wondered who on earth ‘John Brady’ was. Here in chicago, especially among the older generation south side players, they always like to play ‘the Brady Reel’ which turns out to be otherwise named ‘Palmers Gate.’ Spanking tune by the way.

Are there any recordings out there of old John Brady and his daughter Attracta?

19

Thanks for the complete list (kind of), Mr. Krell.

My list was not incomplete. It is ONLY the Senior winners on Concert flute solo. That’s it.

Of course there are many, many other categories and age groups.

Just interesting to see who is on the Senior list whom we thought would have others.

Joanie won on whistle. I don’t know whether the “concert flute” category bars Boehm-system flutes. But Paddy Carty, alias “The Flow” did NOT play a simple-system flute. He played a Radcliffe system (c. 1850s), which LOOOKS like a Boehm, keys and all.

Flatley I think won in the younger age categories. As did Seamus Egan.

Still, amazing players for sure.

Again, would love to see the all-time senior whistle list! Wonder if Vinnie Kilduff is on there?

20

My apologies, Mr. Migoya, I misspoke. Your list was exactly what it claimed to be. I was merely trying to explain how it is that many players are referred to as All-Ireland winners, but weren’t accounted for there. Slow Airs and the different age groups, as well as group categories should cover it. And of course, some on whistle or pipes.

Mr. Krell