Loch Lao meets each Monday night at St Mary’s University College where they perform music sessions, rehearse for concerts and practice for county, provincial and all-Ireland Fleadhanna. The branch is very involved in the local community playing at various social and charity events, with Trad for Trócaire being an important annual fixture. The Loch Lao Ceilí Band is made up of branch members and is very active playing at Céilís throughout Ulster and further afield.
On 15th March 2014 Craobh Loch Lao held their annual concert at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, one of the city’s signature buildings. This event has become a landmark in Loch Lao’s calendar and each year presents a new challenge to improve, build and differentiate on the previous year. This year a brief encounter at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Derry saw the seed planted for collaboration between Ceoltóirí, Drumlin, Co Monaghan, and Craobh Loch Lao, Belfast.
The sell-out concert was a memorable event with many highlights for all concerned. One hundred and thirty musicians took to the stage during the evening’s entertainment, and a fantastic array of music and song was served up to the expectant audience including Grúpaí Ceoil; Ceílí bands; traditional ballad groups; harp, uilleann pipes and guitar ensembles; traditional dancing and a stunning finale.
Indeed, the finale was a fabulous arrangement of “The Fox Chase” as arranged by Patrick Davey, which took the audience on the traditional fox hunt with music and dance, as well as a little added humour along the way. The result was a great success, with the audience clapping along and giving a standing ovation at the end. One of the special guests, Comhaltas County Antrim board secretary Jeanie McGrath, commented on what a spectacular night it had been and congratulated all involved.