Ratoath's Aimee is world's best bodhrán player

Ratoath student Aimee Farrell-Courtney has become the first female to win the World Bodhrán Championship. The Dublin Institute of Technology student won the title in Milltown, Co Kerry, during a festival which attracted thousands of visitors to the town. She was one of 15 competitors who entered the senior competition for which Donal Lunny, Connor Lyons and Sandra Joyce were the adjudicators. The experienced judging panel declared Aimee's "feel and understanding of the music" the deciding factor in her victory. Aimee is a second year student, studying for her degree in music performance in DIT. As well as the bodhrán, she also plays the piano and tin whistle. Earlier this year, she travelled with the DIT Traditional Ensemble to perform at St Patrick's Day festivities in Savannah, Georgia. During that visit, she featured on American TV with renowned guitarist John Feely, professor of guitar, and Odhran O Casaide, head of Irish traditional music at the conservatory. Aimee has been playing bodhrán for 13 years and is no stranger to success. A former Leinster Fleadh winner, she also performed as a member of Na Mothúcháin, who won Gael Linn's Siansa, a national competition for young musicians, in 2005 and 2006. Aimee also recently performed with the conservatory's ensemble at the request of President Mary McAleese at Áras An Uachtarain. She has also performed at cultural events in America and Spain and is well-known in trad music circles, playing at many cultural and traditional events countrywide. For locals who want to experience her musical talent, Aimee will be performing in the weekly trad session in Lawless's Bar, Dunshaughlin, this Friday night.