This year's Connacht Fleadh, held in Mayo, to feature on TG4 special

The Connacht Fleadh and inaugural Community Fleadh in Ballina is set to feature in a one-hour special on TG4 – along with the Ulster, Munster and Leinster Fleadhanna – on Sunday night (August 6) at 9.30 p.m.

Much of the filming in Ballina took place at the competitions in the new St. Mary’s Secondary School campus.

The programme will feature music and interviews from many of the competitors, as well as conversations with the organisers of the Fleadh and an interview with Dr. Labhrás Ó Murchú, director general of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann, on the success of the Connacht Fleadh in Ballina.

Glowing tributes have been paid to the organisers of the event from Fleadh-goers all over the country, many of whom described the facilities at the new St. Mary’s Secondary School as state of the art and the finest venue the Fleadh has ever seen.

Fleadh chairman John McDonnell and PRO Eamonn Walsh have thanked the many Fleadh sponsors, volunteers, local organisations, groups and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the Connacht Fleadh and Community Fleadh in Ballina. The event was a huge success and drew crowds from all over Ireland throughout the week, not to mention overseas visitors from San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia.

Mr. Walsh said “The recent Connacht Fleadh in Ballina is a stepping stone to another All-Ireland Fleadh for the town and county. I would like to thank Mayo County Council for their financial support down through the years – without their financial support there would never be a Fleadh in the county.”

The PRO also thanked Declan Turnbull, head of Ballina Municipal District, and Councillor John O’Hara for convening a meeting two years ago with the local Comhaltas groups to discuss the feasibility of bringing the All-Ireland Fleadh back to Ballina. Following a marathon meeting with the council, Mr. Walsh said, the local Comhaltas groups got together and decided to host the Connacht Fleadh as a stepping stone. “I am confident that it will lead to another All-Ireland Fleadh,” said Mr. Walsh.

Mullingar will host the All-Ireland Fleadh this year and then it moves to Wexford town in 2024 and probably 2025, while Belfast – which narrowly lost out to Wexford – will be a strong contender for the 2026 event.

Mr. Walsh added: “Ballina he said should start think about earmarking the 2027 All-Ireland Fleadh. The town is looking great with the new development at the Military Barracks and Market Square and the new state of the art facilities in St. Mary’s Secondary School.

Mr. Ó Murchú, who performed the official opening of the Fleadh, commented: “Ballina has the atmosphere to host another All-Ireland Fleadh.”

He added that the town 'ticks all the boxes'.

For many in Ballina, the Connacht Fleadh brought with it a sense of great nostalgia for the time the town hosted the All-Ireland Fleadh in both 1997 and 1998.

The 2024 Connacht Fleadh will be hosted in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.