President Connolly opens Belfast Fleadh celebrating ‘universality’ of music
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 is a celebration of the “universality” of music, President Catherine Connolly has said at its opening ceremony.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill told the hundreds gathered outside City Hall that the Fleadh is for all “who calls this place home”, while deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said “culture need not divide us” as she invited visitors “to listen, to learn, and to discover”.
The festival was officially opened by Belfast mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly, kicking off a week of song, dance and culture as part of the world’s largest celebration of traditional Irish music.
More than 200 events and 180 traditional music competitions are taking place in venues, pubs and streets, with 800,000 people expected to visit Belfast over the week-long celebration from August 2nd-9th.
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