THE last weekend in August saw the conclusion of a very successful Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Tullamore, Co. Offaly which has received rave reviews from many quarters as one of the best ever thanks to a spell of great weather and superb organization for the venue which accommodated the rotating event most hospitably and efficiently in the well-laid out town. It had been 44 years since Comhaltas last held an All-Ireland in the midlands, where CCE was founded in Mullingar in 1951, but the odds are great that Tullamore will host again in 2008.

There were some American gold, silver and bronze winners there and congratulations the following:

All-Ireland gold went to two harpers from the Midwest in Siobhan McKinney (12-15) from the IMA Crotty Doran Branch in Detroit and Chelsea Sky Link (15-18) from IMA Chicago branch.

Silver medalists were: Dylan Foley (12-15) of Highland, New York and Michael Coleman Club -who also scored a third place in duets with Dan Gurney of Rhinebeck, New York in the over-18 category-and Liam Hart in newly composed ballads in Irish from New Jersey.

Third place finishes went to Shane Cornyn (12-15) of New York in fiddle slow airs; Blake Ritter (over-18) also in fiddle slow airs; Natasha Sanford (12-15) in piano accordion from St. Louis Irish Arts; Erin Brooker (12-15) in harp; Alex Redinger (15-18) in harp from North Carolina; Kristine Murphy (15-18) in mouth organ from St. Louis Irish Arts; Patrick McGuirk (12-15) of New York's Michael Coleman Club; Justine Cefalu (12-15) in Lilting and Laura Romaine (12-15) in whistle slow airs from Murphy Roche Club in Chicago.