Debate contribution: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
Debate contribution by Miss Nicola Brogan on .
- MLA
- Miss Nicola Brogan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 14 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5685915
Read the official Assembly record
Text
This year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast truly was a transformative event for the city and the wider region. In just eight days, the fleadh generated a massive economic boost, estimated to be in excess of £65 million, for the city. It showcased the city not only to the rest of Ireland but to the rest of the world, recording 1·65 million visitors to the city centre. The true success story of the fleadh, however, was the incredible atmosphere that it created, which was one of inclusivity, safety and equality, as well as a real sense of optimism for the future. I have spoken to lots of people who were at the fleadh, including people from Belfast, people from my constituency of West Tyrone and people from all over Ireland. The one phrase that I heard again and again was that it was the best thing ever to happen in Belfast, and you could see that on the faces of people in Belfast throughout the time of the fleadh. It truly was a music festival of Ireland: a fleadh cheoil na hÉireann. In addition to hosting the best traditional Irish music talents in the world, the city danced to the tunes of artists and bands from the unionist tradition, as well as of those from further afield who brought their cultures and traditions with them when they made Ireland their home. It showed that we are at our very best when we come together as one nation and one people in mutual respect and celebration of one another's traditions and identities. In fact, Belfast was a city of sound this summer, with Féile an Phobail and TradFest taking place in the run-up to and during the fleadh. Belfast has never felt so vibrant, exciting and alive. Of course, the fleadh did not just happen on its own. I thank Belfast City Council for its massive efforts in bringing the festival to the city. I also thank the thousands of volunteers and workers who made sure that the city was as open, welcoming and accessible as possible to the huge numbers of visitors that it received. My experience of attending the fleadh was that we got the public transport bus from the Eikon centre into the city. The service was flawless. Buses ran every five minutes, and I was really impressed by the excellent service. Translink deserves credit for that. I thank our Executive Ministers, who not only rose to the challenge of facilitating one of the biggest festivals in Europe but have been keen to learn lessons from the event. The Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins, is already looking at ways to increase pedestrianisation in the city after the fleadh showed that it was possible and successful. I am hopeful, given the huge commercial and cultural success that the fleadh was, that our Minister for Communities will see the value of investing funding in it for next year as well. Our Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald, must regard the £1 million that she put into the event for a £65 million return as a solid economic investment. Finally, I thank the leadership and members of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for trusting Belfast with their flagship event and for their efforts in making it such a huge success. The really exciting thing is that it is not over. We are only at the halfway mark. The fleadh will be back next year, bigger and better than ever. Let us not squander the opportunities with which it has provided us. Let us all work together in the spirit of the fleadh to ensure that Fleadh Cheoil 2027 not only is a successful event and a great week for Belfast but leaves an economic, cultural and cooperative legacy for generations to come.
630 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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