RULES FOR COMPETITION
Eligibility

The Midwest Fleadh Cheoil is open to competitors who live in the Comhaltas Midwest U.S. Regions. A competitor in the Midwest Fleadh may not compete in any other qualifying Fleadh in 2008.

1. Though all competitions are open to any competitor, qualified by age, they are aimed at those willing to travel to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Only those who have secured first or second prize at the 2008 Midwest Fleadh are eligible to compete in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland, 17- 24 August 2008.

2. Only Irish traditional music will be accepted in all competitions. Competitors may not use written words or music while competing in any competition. The prompting and coaching of competitors during the course of the competition is prohibited.

3. Competitors shall play each tune twice only. In the case of a reel which is played singly a competitor may play such a reel three times (AB AB AB). 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. No penalty shall be levied on a competitor in the Slow Airs Competition if he/she plays the air through only once.

4. A satisfactory standard is necessary for awarding first or any other prize.

5. No ties for first or second places.

6. In accordance with the Comhaltas Fleadhanna Cheoil Rialacha (Rules Applicable to All Fleadhanna), entry forms and fees must reach the Fleadh Secretary not later than May 1, 2008. A Late Fee of $10 per entry will be charged for entries received after that date. In the discretion of the Fleadh Committee, based on the individual merits of each case, entries may be accepted at the Fleadh itself and the decision of the Fleadh Committee will be final.

7. The Fleadh secretary may require proof of age for competitors in the under 18 classes.

8. The adjudicators are the sole judge of merit and in all other matters and the decision of the Fleadh Committee shall be final. Any complaint must be lodged with the Fleadh Committee before the close of competitions on the day of the fleadh and accompanied by a $25 fee; refunds will be at the discretion of the Fleadh Committee. Complaints will be reviewed by the Fleadh Committee immediately following the Fleadh.

9. No communication with the adjudicator is permitted before or during the competition, except through the Stewards.

10. Competitors shall, as far as possible, compete in the order in which they are called by the Call Steward.

11.A competitor who fails to present himself when called for a specific competition, and who has not notified the Call Steward on duty of a just cause for his absence, shall be disqualified from the competition. The Call Steward shall terminate a competition after the completion of the performance by the last available competitor, unless he/she has been previously notified that the missing competitor is ‘held up’ in which case the competition shall be shall open for a maximum of fifteen minutes. Once the Call Steward has closed the competition it cannot be reopened.

12. A copy of the completed adjudication sheet for the competitors own entry only, is available at $1 per sheet and must be requested at the Fleadh.

13. In solo competitions, a competitor must compete in own age group only. In duets, trios, ceili bands and Grupai Cheoil, a competitor may compete only once in any age group of any of the aforementioned competitions. A competitor may also compete in a higher age group, provided that he/she changes his/her instrument.

14. Including competitions for miscellaneous instrument, competitors are allowed to compete on one instrument only in any one competition.

15. Audio tape recording is not permitted unless approved in advance by the Fleadh Chairpersons. Each approval is for one individual in one competition. A release must be obtained in advance from any competitor to be recorded. No video recording is permitted.

16. Practice sessions or rehearsals are not allowed in or near the competition rooms. Entry or exit to competition rooms is not allowed during a competition. Spectators are required to be silent during competitions.

17. In competitions for duets and trios, all members must at all times play the melody of the tune.

18. In duets - over 18, two different instruments and only two must be played, and in trios - over 18, at least two different instruments must be played.

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