Minister welcomes return of fleadh after two-year absence
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, TD, has welcomed the return of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), which received an allocation of €2 million in funding from the department in 2022, has been organising this important cultural event since they held the first one in Mullingar in 1951.
It is now regarded as the world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance and one of Europe’s foremost cultural festivals.
This year’s Fleadh Cheoil – ‘The Homecoming’ – will return to Mullingar from Sunday, 31 July, to 7 August.
Minister Martin has approved a specific allocation of €100,000 towards the organisational costs of the event, which is included in the CCÉ’s 2022 overall funding allocation.
Minister Martin said today: “I welcome the return of the All-Ireland Fleadh after two years’ absence from our cultural calendar. This is a hugely important cultural event for our nation, but it is also a great boost for local tourism, and would not be possible without the many volunteers and supporters in Comhaltas and the wider host community.
“I am pleased to see the re-emergence at regional and community level of such a wealth of talent after a long and challenging period of caution and restraint.
“We can look forward to attending the events and social gatherings that have defined the annual fleadh for many of us over the years. I send my thanks and best wishes to those who make this wonderful yearly event such a success.
“I wish to specifically acknowledge this year the commitment and substantial support of Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath County Board of Comhaltas, who in conjunction with the seven branches in Mullingar, Ballynacargy, Castletown Geoghegan, Rathconrath, Moate, and Castlepollard brought forward the bid to bring the fleadh to the founding town of Comhaltas.
“Their efforts and dedication have paid off, and I hope that they will be rewarded by public support and attendance across the fleadh programme.”
TG4 will broadcast live from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th August each night from 9:30pm until 11pm. The series will be available to view live worldwide on the TG4 Player.