Debate contribution: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Debate contribution by Mr David Brooks on 14 September 2026.

MLA

Mr David Brooks

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

14 September 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5685917

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I join others in congratulating those behind the fleadh that took place in Belfast this summer. Whatever your politics or cultural background, it is not difficult to recognise that the fleadh was a tremendous success for the city. It was great to see Belfast buzzing. I was there on a couple of afternoons, including on one occasion alongside my colleagues Phillip Brett and Jonny Buckley. I was at the marching bands showcase by the Belfast Bands Forum, which I will come on to later. Hundreds of thousands of people came to Belfast, and our streets, venues, pubs and public spaces were filled with music and with families, young people and visitors from across these islands and much further afield. As has been touched on, it was a massive economic opportunity for Belfast and Northern Ireland. It was also a demonstration of what Belfast can do when we have the confidence to work together and allow different traditions and cultures to flourish. It is important to say that I understand the resistance, at times, of some in my community and tradition. For some, their experience of Irishness in recent times has been of something that they have seen others seek to impose. For others, the event with a similar-sounding Irish name, the féile — a rather despicable event — offered a contrast in the week across the city and coloured their view. However, it is important to state clearly that there is no relationship and that the two events could not have been more different. The more I heard from those directly involved in the discussions and planning of the fleadh with Comhaltas, the more comfortable I was. I hope that, having seen the proof of the pudding, many more will feel comfortable representing our community's cultural heritage next year, as the fleadh comes to Belfast again.

Absolutely. The fleadh was a feel-good event and was embraced by all. Of course, there is room for celebrations that are reflective of one community or another — not everything will be shared — but there were events at the féile, such as the Kneecap concert, that were particularly despicable and not something that I could ever endorse. The fleadh was not flawless. If you went looking at the fleadh for something to be offended by — someone wearing or playing something that you did not appreciate — you may have found it, but they were out of place, unwelcome and out of kilter with the inclusive spirit of the event. Comhaltas has had the fleadh as a celebration of folk and traditional music for 75 years and did not come to Belfast to make a political statement. It navigated the choppy waters of Northern Ireland's identity politics about as well as could have been expected. It is right that we acknowledge its efforts in that regard. If we as politicians can learn anything from this year, it is that keeping divisive politics away from an event allows space for an inclusive celebration of music and culture. There is a narrative for us all to spin from the event — we, obviously, speak for our people and our communities — but perhaps our contribution is that we should not overindulge in that unnecessarily. Even Irish traditional music is not the preserve of one tradition. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of hearing Caubeen, the trad band of the Royal Irish Regiment, during its concert of pipes and drums. There is a significant overlap with elements of Ulster-Scots traditional music and instruments. Even without those ties, trad music is enjoyed by many with a British and unionist identity. Not everything has to be defined by our political division or in a negative or adversarial way. Indeed, if I listened only to modern music of my own identity and political outlook, I could probably save on the need for Spotify. People from a unionist and Ulster-Scots background showed a willingness to engage and the confidence to showcase our culture. Whether that was through the Belfast Bands Forum on the slipways or the Ulster-Scots pipes and drums at the Cathedral Quarter, I was proud to see my culture represented on such a large stage. Ulster Scots is part of the story of this place. Our bands, marching tradition, music, poetry and heritage are entitled to be visible in any celebration that seeks to project a cultural picture of the city. Comhaltas understood that, and its engagement went far beyond tokenism, with music, dance and cultural events forming part of the wider programme, not only in the places mentioned previously, but with flute bands on the main Gig Rig and integrated into events at the Ulster Hall. I say "Well done" to those from my constituency: the Parkinson Accordion Band; the Church Flute Band, Belfast; the Loyal; and the Imperial Guards Flute Band. There was also the Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band; the Ballylone Concert Flute Band from Ballynahinch; and a number of Ulster-Scots dance schools, drum majors, Lambegs and others. That is exactly the approach of which I want to see more. Often, our diversity is seen as our complexity and division, but the fleadh showed that it can also be our wealth and our strength. We are a city that is shaped by the Lagan; agriculture; the shipyard; industry; migration; common, if rocky, histories of Great Britain and Ireland; Protestant and Catholic traditions; and Ulster-Scots and Irish influences. We should not try to simplify or whitewash that story on this cultural platform. It is not politics, and it is not a zero-sum game. We should celebrate it. The fleadh showed what happens when Belfast is presented to the world as an open, confident and culturally vibrant city. It also showed that we can not only tolerate but celebrate other cultures when they are not imposed or used to threaten. Someone else celebrating their heritage does not diminish mine. If Orange flutes and Orange tunes are welcome at the fleadh, they should not be regarded as offensive elsewhere on our streets. I congratulate the organisers, musicians, performers, volunteers, Belfast City Council, the businesses that benefited and, most important, all who made visitors feel welcome in our city.

1,031 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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