Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann i mBéal Feirste
Discussion
I’m not sure if this is the right place for this topic, it’s more a cultural thing, but it’s something that I believe that needs to be addressed.
Whether you’re a lifelong follower of trad or a complete first-timer, it’s the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music, song, language and dance.
I’ve been attending “The Fleadh” since the mid-1970s. Back then I was dragged along by my parents. We’re a very musical family, with a long history of traditional Irish music, and it was really the only proper “holiday” we had together as a family.
Over the last 15 or 20 years I’ve attended various All-Ireland Fleadhs for a day or two, but this one is different.
The Fleadh has come home.
The event moves around Ireland, spending a week in a different chosen town or city every two years, but I genuinely believe Belfast should now become the permanent home of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Belfast was, of course, a deeply divided city. In some respects, it still is. But what we’ve witnessed over the last week has been extraordinary. A sea change. A tsunami.
People of all religions and none, different cultures, colours and creeds, have come together in Belfast, and it has been an absolute joy to behold.
When I was growing up, if you saw a police car, you threw stones at it. Last night I watched police men and women dancing in the streets of Belfast. They weren’t standing apart from the Fleadh — they were part of it, just like the musicians, dancers and street performers.
I’m not even going to attempt to do the Fleadh justice here. I couldn’t. It’s something that really has to be seen to be appreciated.
Loyalist pipe bands being applauded by people wearing Kneecap bucket hats.
Uilleann pipers playing alongside Scottish bagpipers.
Irish dancers dancing in the streets alongside Ulster-Scots dancers.
People who perhaps wouldn’t normally share the same space laughing, drinking, dancing and enjoying the same music.
It has been phenomenal.
There are still two days to go and, in the words of the late comedian Jimmy Cricket: **“Come here, there’s more!”**
On a personal level, I sincerely hope I’m still around for next year’s Fleadh — or at least cognitively aware enough to appreciate it.
But whatever happens, I’ll always be grateful that I was here to witness this one.
This is Belfast. The Titanic was alright when it left it.
Céad míle fáilte ó Bhéal Feirste, Éire.
- The wait is over. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is taking place in Belfast for the very first time.**
Whether you’re a lifelong follower of trad or a complete first-timer, it’s the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music, song, language and dance.
I’ve been attending “The Fleadh” since the mid-1970s. Back then I was dragged along by my parents. We’re a very musical family, with a long history of traditional Irish music, and it was really the only proper “holiday” we had together as a family.
Over the last 15 or 20 years I’ve attended various All-Ireland Fleadhs for a day or two, but this one is different.
- This one is in Belfast.**
The Fleadh has come home.
The event moves around Ireland, spending a week in a different chosen town or city every two years, but I genuinely believe Belfast should now become the permanent home of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Belfast was, of course, a deeply divided city. In some respects, it still is. But what we’ve witnessed over the last week has been extraordinary. A sea change. A tsunami.
People of all religions and none, different cultures, colours and creeds, have come together in Belfast, and it has been an absolute joy to behold.
When I was growing up, if you saw a police car, you threw stones at it. Last night I watched police men and women dancing in the streets of Belfast. They weren’t standing apart from the Fleadh — they were part of it, just like the musicians, dancers and street performers.
I’m not even going to attempt to do the Fleadh justice here. I couldn’t. It’s something that really has to be seen to be appreciated.
Loyalist pipe bands being applauded by people wearing Kneecap bucket hats.
Uilleann pipers playing alongside Scottish bagpipers.
Irish dancers dancing in the streets alongside Ulster-Scots dancers.
People who perhaps wouldn’t normally share the same space laughing, drinking, dancing and enjoying the same music.
It has been phenomenal.
There are still two days to go and, in the words of the late comedian Jimmy Cricket: **“Come here, there’s more!”**
On a personal level, I sincerely hope I’m still around for next year’s Fleadh — or at least cognitively aware enough to appreciate it.
But whatever happens, I’ll always be grateful that I was here to witness this one.
This is Belfast. The Titanic was alright when it left it.
Céad míle fáilte ó Bhéal Feirste, Éire.
Greta Thunberg out on the sesh in Belfast for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, with Móglaí Bap.
The success of the first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast has been described as a “dream come true” for organisers.
Visitor numbers were estimated to have topped one million by Friday evening, already exceeding the 800,000 expected by Sunday, with music and the tapping of Irish dancing filling the city centre streets.
Saturday saw the continuation of All-Ireland competitions with 5,000 musicians and dancers from 22 countries taking part, as well as street performances and pop-up activities Fleadh Fringe events on the outskirts of the city.
Irish President Catherine Connolly, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly are among the hundreds of thousands who have attended the Fleadh in the Northern Ireland capital this week.
Ahead of the final day on Sunday, organisers have urged visitors to consider using public transport or park and ride facilities amid high numbers of attendees.
Watching the crowds pass through the Cathedral Quarter, Jim Ingram, manager of the Friend At Hand Irish whiskey shop, said the Fleadh had brought everyone together.
“Nobody knew what was going to happen,” he said.
“It’s bought everyone together, similar to when the King and Queen visited. It’s a bit like being at a wedding – we see the same business owners every day but everyone’s out hugging each other and celebrating.
“It’s just brought a nice atmosphere – we should do it more often. The Fleadh is coming back next year, but there is no reason why after that we couldn’t have a weekend event of our own and make it an annual thing. It would be lovely to keep it like this.”
Niall McClean, chair of Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE), the host branch for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast.
“It’s been absolutely unbelievable, way beyond our expectations, the crowds from the very start have exceeded all we thought, we’re over the moon, and there is still two days to go,” he said.
“I’ve been going to Fleadhs for 40 years and the atmosphere is always good wherever you go, but I’d been maybe a little bit sceptical with it being a complex city that it would work still – but it’s been extraordinary, the streets are full of music.
“It’s getting busier and busier and then the last day is always the highlight to see the Ceilidh band finish at the Gig Rig, so I think Sunday will be even bigger again – we don’t know where we’re going to put everyone.”
In terms of the Fleadh returning to Belfast next year, Mr McClean said there are always lessons to learn, but that generally events have exceeded all their expectations.
“This will be hard to top when you see what has happened this week. The second year of the Fleadh is always bigger again, so I think Belfast is going to have to get an extension,” he added.
Last night for the first time since the partition of this island in 1921, all thirty two counties were reunited in Belfast. Thirty two counties. One island. One people.
We have the momentum, we have the numbers, and we are going forward together.
Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Donegal. We're on the one road, swingin' along. Singin' a soldier's song.
We have the momentum, we have the numbers, and we are going forward together.
Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Donegal. We're on the one road, swingin' along. Singin' a soldier's song.
Hi Trevor, went to the Fleadh myself, was very enjoyable.
Greta and Kneecap were here more for the Feile in Falls park. I'm sure they visited the Fleadh as well of course. Greta seems to have joined the Nationalist/Republican movement as well as the Palestinian movement.
Thankfully the Fleadh wasn't as political as Feile, I dont think I would have enjoyed it if it was.
I play Violin/Fiddle myself and it was lovely to see young people out showing off their talents, I recognised some tunes that I can play myself.
I noticed you were posting on another thread (the Jeffry Donaldson one), I honestly couldn't work out if the post were A.I, snips from articles or your own words, equally this thread seems to be similar.
I agree that the Fleadh was great and I'm glad it is finally safe for it to be hosted Northern Ireland. Looking forward to going to it next year myself, not sure that it should be used to railroad U.I sentiment though. Keep the politics out of it I say.
Greta and Kneecap were here more for the Feile in Falls park. I'm sure they visited the Fleadh as well of course. Greta seems to have joined the Nationalist/Republican movement as well as the Palestinian movement.
Thankfully the Fleadh wasn't as political as Feile, I dont think I would have enjoyed it if it was.
I play Violin/Fiddle myself and it was lovely to see young people out showing off their talents, I recognised some tunes that I can play myself.
I noticed you were posting on another thread (the Jeffry Donaldson one), I honestly couldn't work out if the post were A.I, snips from articles or your own words, equally this thread seems to be similar.
I agree that the Fleadh was great and I'm glad it is finally safe for it to be hosted Northern Ireland. Looking forward to going to it next year myself, not sure that it should be used to railroad U.I sentiment though. Keep the politics out of it I say.
Mostly my own words with some snips from articles, but I have cognitive issues so (a) I don t remember a lot of the things I post and (b) I m past caring what people think (c) probably influenced by my twitter feed more than anything.
I d keep the personal and reflective character of this one rather than making it sound overly formal. The final section in particular is powerful because it contrasts the Belfast you remember with what you witnessed at the Fleadh.
We used to go to Féile in the 1990s, but for me it has become too politicised over the years. It s simply not my thing anymore. That said, you also have to understand the history and origins of Féile. It was established against the backdrop of serious unrest in West Belfast, with the aim of providing an alternative for young people around the anniversary of internment. In that respect, it has been extraordinarily successful. There were no bonfires in West Belfast this year, and there haven t been for some time.
I would still describe myself as a nationalist, although the older I get, the less important political labels become to me. Let s just say I m no great admirer of the party most closely associated with Féile, although I ve always had a certain fondness for Gerry. Whatever your opinion of him or his politics, there s no questioning his credentials or the part he played in our history. I couldn t necessarily say the same about many others in that particular party.
The Fleadh, though, was something else entirely. It was simply unbelievable. Never in a million years would people of our generation have imagined the streets of Belfast thronged with hundreds of thousands of people enjoying, celebrating and sharing our language, our culture and our music.
When we left Belfast almost a quarter of a century ago, something like that would have seemed unimaginable. To come back and witness it happening on those same streets was genuinely quite emotional.
I believe last week will be remembered as a seismic moment in the history of our wee part of this island. 352 days and counting. Tiocfaidh ar Fleadh.
I d keep the personal and reflective character of this one rather than making it sound overly formal. The final section in particular is powerful because it contrasts the Belfast you remember with what you witnessed at the Fleadh.
We used to go to Féile in the 1990s, but for me it has become too politicised over the years. It s simply not my thing anymore. That said, you also have to understand the history and origins of Féile. It was established against the backdrop of serious unrest in West Belfast, with the aim of providing an alternative for young people around the anniversary of internment. In that respect, it has been extraordinarily successful. There were no bonfires in West Belfast this year, and there haven t been for some time.
I would still describe myself as a nationalist, although the older I get, the less important political labels become to me. Let s just say I m no great admirer of the party most closely associated with Féile, although I ve always had a certain fondness for Gerry. Whatever your opinion of him or his politics, there s no questioning his credentials or the part he played in our history. I couldn t necessarily say the same about many others in that particular party.
The Fleadh, though, was something else entirely. It was simply unbelievable. Never in a million years would people of our generation have imagined the streets of Belfast thronged with hundreds of thousands of people enjoying, celebrating and sharing our language, our culture and our music.
When we left Belfast almost a quarter of a century ago, something like that would have seemed unimaginable. To come back and witness it happening on those same streets was genuinely quite emotional.
I believe last week will be remembered as a seismic moment in the history of our wee part of this island. 352 days and counting. Tiocfaidh ar Fleadh.
Edited by TrevorHill on Thursday 13th August 00:59
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