By Dan Walsh at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford town
A new Guinness World Record was set when 1,018 musicians from Ireland and beyond gathered today at Chadwick’s Wexford Park to form the largest Céilí Band.
Glen Pollard from Guinness World Records officiated as the old world record was smashed.
A fringe event for Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, which was on its fifth day in Wexford town, the record attempt was inspired by the fact that the world famous Guinness Book of Records began in Castlebridge in 1954 and a local committee are attempting to seek every copy that was published!
Tunes played at today’s world record Ceilí Band achievement were ‘The Wexford Polka’, ‘The Gaelscoil Polka’, and ‘The Little Diamond’.
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, to name a few!
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.
WexfordLocal.com 