Fleadh campaigner calls on Mayo authority to send delegation on fact-finding mission
All-Ireland Fleadh campaigner Eamonn Walsh has called on Mayo County Council to send a delegation on a fact-finding mission to the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford town which is taking place from August 4 to 12.
Walsh said in a blunt message that without the support of Mayo County Council, the bid for the 2028 All-Ireland Fleadh is doomed.
He elaborated: "The local Comhaltas is a voluntary organisation and cannot be expected to raise the €1.9 million to stage the mammoth event.
"The All-Ireland Fleadhanna in Cavan, Sligo and Wexford have been organised by their respective county councils.
“It is imperative that Mayo county Council see at first hand the benefits the mammoth event brings to the whole county.
"It is expected that over 600,000 people will descend on Wexford over the eight day event.
"Knock Airport would benefit hugely from the thousands of overseas visitors to the Fleadh.
"The All-Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar attracted 600,000 people and generated in the region of €120 million to the local economy over the two years.
"RTE and TV stations from around the globe cover the annual major cultural event which provides a huge tourism boost to the host town and County.
"A high level Fleadh meeting took place in Ballina last February between Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann representatives and Mayo County Council in an effort to bring the All-Ireland Fleadh back to Ballina after a lapse of 26 years.
"Joe Connaire who was chairman of the hugely successful All-Ireland Fleadhanna in Mullingar in 2022 and 2023 addressed the meeting and outlined the benefits the All-Ireland Fleadh has brought to Mullingar and the wider region, the costs associated with staging the event, government and county council financial support and the accommodation bank required.
"The meeting will also attended by Bartley Gavin, a former director of services with Sligo County Council and who was chairman of the Sligo Fleadhanna, and Ballina native Minister Dara Calleary, along with Mags Downey, CEO Ballina Chamber Of Commerce, Lisa Hallinan, project manager, Ballina 2023 and Annette Maughan, CEO, Moy Valley.
"The All-Ireland Fleadh in Mullingar attracted 600,000 people over the eight day event and generated in the region of €120 million to the local economy over the two years."
Eamonn Walsh described the meeting as hugely significant and a start to the campaign to bring the Fleadh back to Ballina after a lapse of 26 years.
The town last hosted the All-Ireland Fleadh in 1997 and 1998.
The Director General of Comhaltas Ceóltoiri Éireann visited Ballina recently as said “Ballina ticks all the boxes for an All-Ireland Fleadh."
Ballina is earmarking the 2028 All-Ireland Fleadh and work has already begun on the painstaking application which must be submitted to Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Éireann with a guaranteed levy of €200,000.
The levy is due after a town is awarded the Fleadh.
He paid tribute to the work of Billy Lewis, former CEO of Moy Valley Resources, Oliver Rouse and Paddy O’Hora, former executive members of the Ballina Chamber of Commerce, who made the 1997 and 1998 All-Ireland Fleadhanna in Ballina possible.
Without the support of these three people, the Fleadh would have faced huge financial and organisational challenges.
The Fleadhanna, a much smaller event 26 years ago, attracted 100,000 people and generated £7 million to the local economy and cost £163,000 to run.
Today the All-Ireland Fleadh has grown into a mammoth event with the growth of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann in every corner of the globe. Comhaltas recently formed new branches in Dubai and Brussels.
Walsh is also calling on all Mayo business people at home and abroad to back the Fleadh and provide sponsorship.
He stated: “The whole of Co Mayo would benefit from an All-Ireland Fleadh and we need the whole county behind this mammoth event.
Benefits and cost of hosting All-Ireland Fleadh
Based on Fáilte Ireland data, the All-Ireland Fleadh, generates €60 million each year to the local economy and attracts 500,000 visitors over 9 days with 30% of visitors from overseas.
The Fleadh is a community festival with 1,500 Volunteers required to organise the event.
There are 182 competitions with 6,000 competitors competing for All-Ireland titles.
RTÉ record six TV programmes, reaching an audience of 400,000 and promote the vibrance of the festival and reach national and international audiences.
A number of TV stations from around the world cover the event.
The costs of €1.9 million associated with organising the All-Ireland Fleadh includes the following:
•1 x 2,000 seater dome.
• Security Services
• Event Management Services
• Medical Cover
• Barriers
• Portable Toilets
• Traffic Management
• Signage
• Lighting
• Waste Management.
• Hospitality and Paid Event
• Sound Equipment Rental and Sound Engineering Services
• Advertising on Local and National Media.
•Catering for over 600,000 visitors to the town over the nine day event, requires meticulous planning and the implementation of infrastructure and services
• General Marketing and Public Relations
• Accommodation for adjudicators and tutors.
• Food and other supplies for competition venues.
• There is massive Social Media across all key platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, FB Live, YouTube and with TikTok's global reach and innovative platform, the Fleadh is shared with audiences worldwide.