World Record for biggest Céilí Band is broken at Fleadh in Wexford
James Cox
Today at Chadwick’s Wexford Park, the Guinness World Record for the biggest Céilí Band was smashed when 1,018 musicians from across Ireland, Europe and the world performed.
It was completed under the watchful eye of Glen Pollard , who adjudicated the attempt.
The Wexford record was attended by musicians from countries including the USA, France, Japan, the UK and Canada. Instruments included tin whistles, fiddles, concertina, accordion, banjo, guitar, mandolin, drums, piano and uileann pipes.
Unsurprisingly, following last year’s successful record for the largest tin whistle ensemble, the tin whistle was the most prevalent instrument played today.
The previous record for the largest céilí band was 384 people, and was set by The Late Late Show, at Croke Park, in Dublin, on March 15th, 2024.
A group called Castlebridge Inspire, which celebrates the town's status as the birthplace of the Guinness Book of Records, was invovled in the attempt.
In an interview this week, John Ryan, who runs Castlebridge Inspire, told BreakingNews.ie: "There are different people involved at different levels. Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil will have their name on the record and they are running it, Wexford County Council is providing resources, Wexford GAA is providing the venue and helping with logistics, and then there are the volunteers.
"Our role is liaising with Guinness World Records to make sure it is an official record, we handle the registrations, the communications.
"There is a little bit of nervousness, but after last year's success, there are fewer unknowns, and we remember the emotions of what we achieved last year.
"The Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil group has to be recognised for its achievement in the second world record so close to the birthplace of Castlebridge.
"The Fleadh Cheoil means so much to the community. We're all in this together, so everyone is focused on the objective."
