Successful year for Castletown and K&S accordion bands

The past year was a very successful one for the Castletown Accordion Orchestra. Now, with over 60 members, they won a number of All-Ireland titles and currently have four orchestras. A large number of members sat Royal Irish Academy of Music exams. They are off once again this year to Innsbruck, Austria, to the World Accordion Festival where three of the orchestras will compete. Around 380 orchestras from all over the world take part in this event which is held every three years. Mark Smith, Ellen Farrelly and Holly Chilton were awarded high achiever awards from the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Meabh Farrelly and Karen Smyth were awarded honours diplomas in accordion from the Victoria College of Music, London. Karen also graduated with a BA in Irish and Music from St Patrick's, Drumcondra. Meanwhile, the Kentstown and Seneschalstown (K&S) Accordion Orchestras began the new year in style, claiming a number of titles and prizes at the 13th Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships in Larne. The competition involved categories for solo and orchestra performances and the K&S excelled in both. The successful day began with Nicole Doherty taking first place in the Championship Solo Under-11 and second in the preliminary solo. Success continued with Evin Kelly winning the Open Solo competition. Brendan Lynch claimed the Elementary Solo title, while Niamh Murray was victorious in the Higher Intermediate Solo. Further achievements included Kelly Murray placed second in both the Championship Solo Under-17 and the Advanced Solo. Niamh Murray claimed second in the Championship Solo Under-15, with Ruth Sheridan placed third and Lauren Farquharson, fourth. Lauren Farquharson was also placed third in the Intermediate Solo - Own Choice. Ciara Beirne took second in the Higher Elementary solo while Louise Heaney was placed third. The highlight of the day was when both the K&S Preparatory Orchestra and the K&S Advanced Orchestra triumphed in their sections. Under the direction of Gerry Kelly the preparatory orchestra was awarded first place for its performance of 'Kleins Marchenbuch Movts 1-3'. The senior orchestra faced stiff opposition from St John's Accordion Orchestra and Killyglen Orchestra both from Northern Ireland, however their performance of 'Das Grosse Derby' impressed the judges and earned them first place. With these successes behind them, the K&S marching band are now busy practicising for St Patrick's weekend where they will travel to London to participate in the London parade on Sunday 15th March and then play at local St Patrick's Day parades on the 17th March. The annual general meeting of the K&S will take place in Kentstown Hall on Thursday 25th February.