Philip Duffy’s “On the Night: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – Musicians and Senior Céilí Band Winners, 1951–2021” is a detailed account of senior céilí band winners at the All Ireland Fleadh, spanning from its inception in 1951 to 2019, with a gap in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. This extensive work, consisting of nearly a thousand pages and accompanied by two CDs, documents the biographies of musicians who have been part of winning bands. It identifies recurring themes and the evolving nature of the Fleadh, including the competition’s central role in Irish traditional music and the céilí band’s position as a highlight of the event.
The book catalogues thirty-six bands over seventy years, tracking changes in band names and the increasing inclusion of female musicians. It also delves into the significance of competition in shaping céilí bands’ reputations. The publication, enriched with a vast collection of archival images and recordings, serves as an invaluable resource for enthusiasts and scholars alike. It’s available for purchase at the website onthenight.net.
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