Debate contribution: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Debate contribution by Mr Gerry Carroll on 19 January 2026.

MLA

Mr Gerry Carroll

Party at the time

People Before Profit Alliance

Date

19 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5322758

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members opposite for tabling the motion. There is no doubt that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is a fantastic and world-renowned cultural event for people who love traditional Irish music and culture more generally. It is a real positive that that amazing event is coming to Belfast, bringing with it hundreds of thousands of people, and maybe that will touch on a million people, if the previous Member who spoke and others are correct. It is a real chance to showcase the fact that, despite the problems, historical and contemporary, that we have in this city, we have a rich tapestry of music and culture and that, for the most part, we are a welcoming city and, across the North, are, mostly, a welcoming region. My amendment is an attempt to strengthen the motion and ensure that the experience for everyone at the fleadh is the best that it can be, both for performers and the public more generally. Too often in this place, we have Executive parties making a song and dance about sport or cultural events that come here. They want the press and the publicity — I do not begrudge them that — but they do not want to implement the measures needed to make sure that those events can be enhanced and improved for spectators, participants and other people who attend them. As was mentioned, this will be the second time that the fleadh has been in the North, and I think that an application has been submitted for it to be in Belfast next year, if all goes well. I want to say, "Go raibh maith agat" to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

for its briefing ahead of the debate. It mentioned some issues that I want to draw attention to. It has stated that the event needs to be inclusive and enduring and that that depends on continued investment in the cultural infrastructure and organisations that make the fleadh possible, and I echo that. Part of my amendment deals with that. I have referred to the hiking of prices before sporting and cultural events. At the golf tournament that took place last summer in Portrush, people were forced to pay an eye-watering sum — a fortune — for accommodation. Part of that is because of the overuse of homes through Airbnb and other apps. That was referred to in the previous debate. It is also because there is a complete lack of regulation of the private rented sector in general and of holiday lets specifically. The Communities Minister needs to introduce regulations in that regard and work alongside appropriate bodies to prevent the hiking of accommodation costs for visitors participating in or watching the fleadh. I know of constituents who have been evicted from non-standard accommodation during previous big sporting and cultural events. The reason for that is that it is much more lucrative to charge tourists — it usually is tourists — higher prices than to provide housing at a previously agreed price to people in need. That is totally unacceptable. It should not be allowed and should be prevented from happening in the run-up to the fleadh. Many attendees at fleadhanna

bring tents and camp out. Some work is going on on that. I appreciate the Minister's being here, and I ask her to elaborate on the work being done on that. I would like to know how far that has developed. Additionally, the Communities Minister, probably alongside the Economy Minister, needs to provide some level of communal sleeping in community halls or other appropriate buildings, so that people who are able to and want to can sleep together. The amendment further mentions the need for free public transport to be provided for attendees at events at the fleadh. That was provided in Port Láirge

or Wexford two or three years ago. This could be an important contribution to what could be the best fleadh, if not just in the North, then ever. It would be an important way to ease congestion, reduce the usage of cars and prevent traffic chaos. If implemented, it would make the fleadh an excellent event. While they are not contained in the motion, I will mention in closing a few other issues that have been raised with me in the last few days and ask whether there are any updates on them. The greater pedestrianisation of Belfast: we saw the disaster of Hill Street, and we need to make sure that the city centre and other areas are more friendly for people walking and wheeling. Bar curfews should be relaxed, and there should be later opening of venues, especially those that are not also serving alcohol. Street food, late-night bus services throughout the week, access to bathrooms — there are many other issues which I do not have time to go through.

I will indeed. For those to be impacted, we need to ensure that our hospitality workers are properly supported and paid, including a zero-tolerance policy on harassment, and employers should make sure that they get home safely and that they are not out of pocket. Thank you for letting me go on a wee bit.

866 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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