Facing the All-Ireland Fleadh is in the family

A YOUNG Tuam banjo player is firmly following in his grandmother’s musical footsteps as he has qualified for a national competition in which she was a top prizewinner some 60 years ago.

Eleven-year-old Alex Donnellan is a member of Tuam Comhaltas Ceoltoírí Éireann (CCE) and he won first place in the U-12 Banjo and U-12 Mandolin section in the Connacht Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo. He now faces competition from top musicians of his age from around the country, and even New York, at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann taking place in Mullingar on August 6.

Helping him practice is his grandmother, well-known talented musician and singer Eilish Donnellan (nee Tuttle), who represented Tuam CCE at the same level in 1961.

Read this story in full in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald, on sale in shops and online here