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Rebekah Wilson
BBC News NI
BBC
Jason said Irish music is inclusive which makes it popular
The largest festival of Irish music and culture in the world is expected to take place in Belfast in 2026.
The Fleadh Cheoil brings thousands of musicians together to perform traditional Irish music both competitively and, for some, just for “the craic”.
Claire Kieran, from traditional music organisation An Droichead, said it would be a “magic experience for the city” to host the festival.
“We have some of the best traditional music in the country, here in Belfast.”
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said an official announcement is expected to be made in March.
“The festival would be an historic celebration of arts and culture, attracting hundreds of thousands visitors and injecting tens of millions of pounds into our economy,” Maskey said.
It would be the second time the event is held in Northern Ireland.
In 2013, Londonderry hosted the All-Ireland fleadh, attracting an estimated 400,000 people.
Fleadh Cheoil 2025 is scheduled to take place between 3-10 August in Wexford, County Wexford.
Getty Images
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said an official announcement is expected in March
Traditional Irish musicians in Belfast think the festival would bring a real buzz to the city.
Jason O’Rourke, plays a 1920s vintage concertina and said the streets of Belfast will be “thronged full of music” if the festival happens.
“People come to the fleadh not even just to compete, there will be competitions of course that’s what it’s about but people will come just for the session. I say just but the sessions are going to be epic,” he said.
Jason said people might start playing in unexpected places.
“People will meet old friends, play music in the streets, play in chip shops, wherever they can get a tune.”
He said what makes it so popular is that it’s “very inclusive, egalitarian”.
“Everyone gets the chance to play it. That’s one of the reasons its all over the world, a global phenomenon.”
Claire believes the festival in Belfast would be a magic experience
Claire Kieran said there were “about 650,000” visitors at last years fleadh in Wexford.
“It really is is a global festival, between competitors in the competitions…learners, family and friends,” she said.
She added that showcasing Belfast’s traditional music scene and bring more visitors to the city “would be amazing”.
Maureen said people are eager to learn traditional Irish music in Belfast
Maureen O’Donoghue, who plays the fiddle, said there is already a “big vibrancy” around Belfast when it comes to Irish music.
“It’s so exciting to go about sessions in Belfast and see how many young people there are playing so many different instruments, there’s really a lot of big vibrancy in so many bars in the city,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people with a lot of eagerness to learn and just a lot of energy which is great to see in music, especially in traditional music.”
Conor said the festival would showcase everything Belfast has to offer
Conor Lamb, who plays the uilleann pipes, said the festival brings people from all over the world.
“It’s very nice anytime we get to play in our home city. Belfast itself is great for people to visit, lots of musicians and music fans enjoying the music and enjoying everything else Belfast has to offer,” he said.
“There’ll be people travelling from all over the world, not just here, to celebrate Irish music here.”
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