Campaign to bring All-Ireland Fleadh back to Mayo continues

Eamonn Walsh, PRO for the recent Connacht Fleadh in Ballina, is calling on Mayo County Council to support the local Comhaltas organisations and earmark the 2027 All-Ireland Fleadh for the north Mayo capital.

Mr. Walsh pointed out that Ballina he said would need to be processing an application for the 2025 Fleadh to demonstrate to the 32 voting members of the Árd Comhairle of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann that it is a serious contender for the event in 2027.

“It’s imperative that we join the queue now,” he said.

The All-Ireland Fleadh – currently ongoing in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – attracts in excess of 400,000 people annually, with 30% of those travelling from overseas. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann can generate in the region of €50 million to the local area (according to a Fáilte Ireland survey, recently cited by Minister Catherine Martin).

The event brings visitors from all over the world and a wonderful opportunity to showcase what a county and region has to offer. The long-term benefits would include increased awareness of Co Mayo as a tourist destination.

The Fleadh began in Mullingar in 1951 as a competition to set standards in Irish traditional music. Today, the event has grown into a 10-day carnival of parades, workshops, sessions and street entertainment, and attracts TV stations from around the world. RTÉ and TG4 broadcasts a number of programmes from the Fleadh.

Mullingar is hosting the Fleadh this week, while it’s the turn of Wexford to host the event in 2024 and 2025. Belfast, which narrowly lost out to Wexford, is pressing ahead with an application to host the 2026 event.

Mr. Walsh said: “Ballina would be a strong contender for the 2027 and 2028 All-Ireland Fleadh, but a feasibility study must be carried out over the coming months. It is imperative that we have the financial support of Mayo County Council, similar to the support given by Cavan, Sligo and Westmeath county councils.

“I would encourage as many local business people and public representatives to visit Mullingar this weekend for a few hours and meet with their counterparts and get a flavour for the event.

“It would prove useful to invite members of the Mullingar Fleadh committee to a meeting in Ballina to get an insight into the organisational costs associated with the running of the Fleadh and what public funding is available. The cost of staging the All-Ireland Fleadh is now €1.9 million and no voluntary organisation can undertake a fundraising campaign for a mammoth event like the All-Ireland Fleadh anymore without the financial support of the county council.”

Councillor John O'Hara has confirmed he will be travelling to Mullingar this weekend on a fact-finding mission and to see first-hand the benefits that the great cultural event brings to a county.

He explained: “I have previously attended the All-Ireland Fleadhanna in Sligo and Cavan and I have seen the massive benefits the event brings. I was delighted to be associated with the recent Connacht Fleadh in Ballina, when myself and Declan Turnbull, head of Ballina Municipal District, brought the local Comhaltas groups together to discuss an All-Ireland Fleadh for the town, and we decided to stage the Connacht Fleadh as a stepping stone to an All-Ireland. Given the success of the event, the time has come to earmark the All-Ireland Fleadh.”

Councillor O’Hara added: “We want every councillor in Mayo supporting the local Comhaltas groups in an effort to bring the All-Ireland Fleadh back to Mayo. Traditional musicians in the county and province are eager to see the Fleadh back in Mayo.

“The success of the recent Connacht Fleadh and Community Fleadh in Ballina has prompted a serious conversation among many business people in the town who want to see a return of the All-Ireland Fleadh, which was last held in Ballina in 1997 and 1998.”

“The question I’ve been continually asked is: 'When is the big one coming?'”

Councillor O'Hara concluded: “It was very encouraging to hear Dr. Labhrás O’Murchú, director general of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, who officially opened the recent provincial Fleadh in Ballina, saying that Ballina 'ticks all the boxes' for an All-Ireland Fleadh.”