Belfast to Welcome Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Twice
The world's largest festival of Irish music and dance, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, also known as the All-Ireland Fleadh, is set to take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital, this summer. Even before its first visit, the event has been confirmed to return to the city in 2027.
This announcement has been positively received as it promises to enhance the arts, culture, and economy by attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to Belfast for two consecutive years.
'Biggest event probably in our history'
Arthur McAnerney, who operates City Picnic in Belfast city centre, shared his anticipation for the festival, stating his business will be preparing extensively by increasing stock, staffing, adding on-street seating, decorating, and aiming to include live music to create a vibrant atmosphere.
"It's the biggest event probably we've had in our history," he said.
Reflecting on his past experiences attending the Fleadh, McAnerney described it as a major tourist attraction with lively streets throughout the event.
"It's a great festival atmosphere and it's great for Belfast to get it. I'm absolutely delighted, actually, that Belfast has got it.
It's an incredible thing for Belfast and it's great to see that we're going to get a second go at it too and hopefully lots more to come after that.
It's unbelievable watching Belfast grow and getting things like this coming to Belfast is just incredible."
Historically, the Fleadh has attracted up to 800,000 visitors to its host locations. It has been held in Northern Ireland only once before, in Londonderry in 2013.
Dónal O'Connor, a traditional musician and artistic director of Belfast Tradfest, has been attending the Fleadh since childhood and has experience producing its live television broadcasts from 2013 to 2019.
He described Belfast hosting the Fleadh for two consecutive years as highly positive news for the city.
"It shows that there's a confidence in Belfast to deliver such a large scale event, that there's an appetite here in the city for it, but that the world also wants to come here," O'Connor said.
He noted that local musicians are enthusiastic about the event, which will offer numerous opportunities to showcase the region's unique musical identity.
"We have a unique soundscape in this part of the island and it's an opportunity to show that to the world," he added.
O'Connor also emphasized the significant economic benefits the Fleadh will bring to Belfast, anticipating many visitors from the Republic of Ireland crossing the border to attend for the first time.
Claire Kieran, an Irish traditional music producer who established the Belfast Traditional Music Trail, praised Belfast as possibly the best city in the country for traditional music.
"We have amazing talent here, so many amazing musicians, and also a rich heritage in the city for traditional music, so it's really fitting that it's coming here - and really exciting," she said.
Kieran expressed hope that the Fleadh will continue to be hosted in various towns throughout Northern Ireland.
The influx of visitors is expected to benefit not only hotels, restaurants, and pubs but also retail businesses. Keith Lane, owner of the Norn Irish Gift Shop in Belfast city centre, anticipates positive impacts on his business.
"As a city centre business, it can only be a good thing, and bring more money, more people, and put Belfast city on the map," he said.
Originally from Yorkshire but a resident of Northern Ireland for 23 years, Lane markets gifts that reflect local Northern Irish humor and culture, which he plans to highlight during the Fleadh.
"It'll be vibrant, the city should be bouncing with that number of people and all the activities, so it should be really exciting and be a real focus for the businesses in the city centre," he added.
'I love to see the Fleadh coming north'
The Fleadh is organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Association of the Musicians of Ireland). Brendan McAleer from Comhaltas, originally from Omagh in County Tyrone, expressed his pleasure at the Fleadh returning to Northern Ireland.
"For decades, our musicians and competitors travelled from all across Ulster to all parts of Ireland and had only been in Derry back in 2013, but I always wanted to see it coming back," he said.
McAleer noted a significant increase in traditional music across Northern Ireland and praised the high quality of young musicians currently active.
"The quality of the young musicians now are second to none," he said.
He highlighted that the Fleadh offers a major platform for local talent on an international stage.
"The Fleadh would give them a huge platform to display their talents on what is a global stage," McAleer said.
According to reports from Fáilte Ireland, 17% of Fleadh visitors come from outside the island of Ireland. McAleer emphasized the economic opportunities this presents for local businesses, tourism providers, hoteliers, restaurants, and pubs.
"When you're talking numbers of 800,000 - that's a huge amount of people coming in and that then gives our local businesses, tourism providers, hoteliers, restaurants, pubs and everybody an opportunity to benefit from the Fleadh," he said.
He also noted that for many attendees, the Fleadh will be their first visit to Belfast, offering a chance to reshape perceptions of the city and encourage repeat visits.
"If we can show them a good time, show them that it's a different city to maybe what had been preconceived previously, there are opportunities for repeat visits," McAleer said.
McAleer concluded by emphasizing the social benefits of hosting the Fleadh in Belfast, describing it as a cultural festival that can engage all segments of society.
"Coming into Belfast - the biggest dividend for us can be socially because we can have a cultural festival that comes in and every corner of society, every person can feel that they gain from, and that there is something there for everybody," he added.
