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06 Sept 2025

WATCH: No arrest necessary as tin-whistling Garda steals the show at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Garda Connolly showed off his musical abilities in an impromptu trad session on the street in Wexford

WATCH: No arrest necessary as tin-whistling Garda steals the show at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

A garda on duty at this weekend's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford stole the show with his tin whistle skills.

This year's festival is being held for the first time in Wexford town with 15,000 performers from across the country competing at the Fleadh.

Crowds of up to 100,000 are expected to descend on the streets of Wexford over the weekend.

Recognised as the world's largest traditional Irish music festival, even the on-duty gardaí couldn't help catching the musical bug.

While patrolling the streets of Wexford town on Friday, Garda Connolly picked up a tin whistle and joined in an impromptu trad session on the street.

"Garda Connolly getting involved in the craic agus ceoil at this weekend’s Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford town," gardaí captioned the video posted to their official X account.

The viral clip has since racked up 200,000 views and almost 1,500 likes on the platform.

On Thursday, 2,516 people came together at Chadwicks Wexford Park to break the Guinness World Record for the most tin whistles played simultaneously, smashing the previous record which stood at 1,015 players, with musicians from across the world taking part.

The 2024 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann comes to a close this Sunday evening. 

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