Location:
Crowne Plaza Chicago-Northbrook
2875 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Northbrook, IL 60062
Group code: CFL
Group cut-off date: Friday, April 12, 2024
Guest Room Rate: $115 plus tax includes breakfast (check your reservation for details)
Reservations Phone Number: 847-298-2525Important: Please only make reservations through this site using the group code CFL
The Crowne Plaza provides the fleadh with competition rooms as a result of booking directly through them, which keeps entry prices low.Complete competition rules are available at www.midwestfleadh.org. "Rialacha Fleadhanna Cheoil" (The Official Competitions Rulebook) along with the " 2023 Addendum" are the official and binding fleadh rules.
This document provides a detailed description of performance requirements for each competition and age group.Competitions are coded as follows: Competition + Age Group (e.g.: Fiddle Under 12 years old is Competition 1A) Music Performance Requirements:
"Rialacha Fleadhanna Cheoil" (The Official Competitions Rulebook) provides a detailed description of performance requirements for each competition and age group.
Competitors who play extra tunes, e.g. two jigs or two reels in lieu of one, shall be adjudicated on the first tune of the selection only and shall be penalized by the deduction of two marks for each extra tune attempted.
Please note: The piano for competitions will be an 88-note, weighted action digital piano.Dance Performance Requirements:
Competitors may only perform 4-Hand or 8-Hand Céilí Dances from Ár Rincí Céilí (Revision September 2014) and subsequent updates in the Céilí dancing handbook issued by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.
For detailed dance performance requirements, entries, categories, substitutions, etc please refer the Fleadh Competitions Rulebook ("Rialacha Fleadhanna Cheoil") page 13 (céilí dancing) or page 15 (set dancing).Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Competitions:
Winners of First and Second prizes shall qualify to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All-Ireland) in the same year.
The following competitions will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, however, winners will not be qualified for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All-Ireland):
• 54 - Tír na nÓg (U-12 age group only)
• 55 - An t-Aistear - The Journey (All ages over 12)
These two events were created for musicians who want feedback on their playing from a qualified adjudicator, for those who find competition too stressful but want to be part of the festivities, or for beginners who are not quite ready for the qualifying competition. This is a low pressure, very positive event. Musicians or singers who choose to participate in Tír na nÓg or An t-Aistear cannot also compete in regular qualifying competitions on the same instrument. Entrants should plan to play two tunes in contrasting tempo or sing two songs: one lively, one slow. If the entrant performs only one piece, feedback will be given on that piece.
• 56 - Recitation (Any age)Media Permits:
The possibility of taking an audio or video recording of a competitor's performance requires the acquisition of a media permit (free of charge). Media Permits are given at registration and are valid for one competitor in one competition. Media permits will be heavily policed by competition stewards.Schedule:
Friday, April 26th
• Registration desk opens 3:00pm
• Duets and Trios 6:30pm
Saturday, April 27th
• Registration desk opens 7:00am
• Solo Competitions start at 9:00am
• Band Competitions start at 5:30pm
Sunday, April 28th (no local feiseanna today)
• Registration desk opens 9:00am
• Sean Nos Competitions start at 9:30am
• Set and Céilí Dance Competitions start at 10:00am
Spectator or Competitor wristband required to enter competition rooms For the latest updates please visit the Midwest Fleadh Facebook page Competitions:
- Fiddle
2. Button Accordion
3. Flute
4. Whistle
5. Piano Accordion
6. Concertina
7. Uilleann Pipes
8. Irish Harp
9. Mouth Organ
10. Banjo
11. Mandolin
12. Piano
13. Melodeon
14. Miscellaneous
15. Accompaniment
16. Bodhrán
17. Céilí Drums
18. Fiddle Slow Airs
19. Uilleann Pipes Slow Airs
20. Flute Slow Airs
21. Whistle Slow Airs
22. Harp Slow Airs
23. Duets
24. Trios
25. Céilí Band
26. Grúpaí Ceoil
27. Accordion Marching Bands
28. Flute Marching Bands
29. Miscellaneous Marching Bands
30. Pipe Marching Bands
31. Irish Singing (Ladies)
32. Irish Singing (Men)
33. Amhráin Bhéarla (Mná)
34. Amhráin Bhéarla (Fir)
35. Whistling
36. Lilting
37. Newly Composed Songs in Irish
38. Amhráin Nuacheaptha, Béarla
39. Newly Composed Tunes
40. 8-Hand Céilí Dancing, Ladies
41. 8-Hand Céilí Dancing, Mixed
42. 4-Hand Céilí Dancing, Ladies
43. 4-Hand Céilí Dancing, Mixed
44. Full Set, Ladies
45. Full Set, Mixed
46. Half Set, Mixed
47. Full Set, Mixed, O35
48. Rince ar an Sean-Nós
49. Comhrá Gaeilge
50. Storytelling
51. Scéalaíocht
54. Tír na nÓg
55. An t-Aistear - The Journey
56. RecitationAge Groups:
A → U12: a person whose 12th or earlier birthday occurs on any date in 2024B → 12-15: a person whose 13th, 14th or 15th birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
C → 15-18: a person whose 16th, 17th or 18th birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
D → O18: a person whose 19th or greater birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
E → Any Age
F → U18: a person whose 18th or earlier birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
G → U9: a person whose 9th or earlier birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
H → 9-11: a person whose 10th or 11th birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
I → 11-13: a person whose 12th or 13th birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
J → 13-15: a person whose 14th or 15th birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
K → 15-18: a person whose 16th, 17th or 18th birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
L → O35: Applies to Competition 47L only – Mixed Set O-35. All members of the set must have their
36th or greater birthday on any date in 2024.N → O12: a person whose 13th or greater birthday occurs on any date in 2024.
Fleadh Cheoil Midwest 2024 will be held in Chicago, IL from April 26th - 28th
