'Roll on 2027' as Fleadh 2026 comes to an end

The first All Ireland Fleadh in Belfast ended in the early hours of Monday morning with organisers saying they were overwhelmed by the positive response they received from all communities.

It is estimated that there were more than a million people in the city centre during the eight days of the fleadh.

At least 4,000 were still in the grounds of Belfast City Hall at 01:00 BST to hear the closing speeches and final tunes.

Niall McClean, co-chair of the organising committee, told the crowd they were all part of an historic event.

He said: "We've done something that has never, ever happened in this city before. We've brought every single community together – and everybody has absolutely loved it."

McClean added that it has "put a permanent smile on my face. I'm the happiest man in Belfast. Roll on 2027".

"What an incredible week. Everyone I have spoken to has had an amazing time here in Belfast, thousands of people all on a high.

"Belfast has shone, the world has come to our doorstep, bringing the biggest numbers ever seen for a Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

"I'm so proud of our branch and all our members, and what we have achieved together. We dared to dream and those dreams have come true."

To loud applause, he ended by saying: "Well done Belfast, we'll see you next year."

The All Ireland Fleadh returns to the city from 1 to 8 August 2027.

Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú, director general of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (society of the musicians of Ireland) which runs the annual All Ireland Fleadh, described this year's festival as a "miracle."

He told the crowd: "I hope that when you go back (home), you'll bring with you not just the memories but you'll tell people that you were part of - and you witnessed and you experienced - a miracle here in Belfast this week.

"Because it was a miracle, a miracle of music, a miracle of friendship, a miracle of creativity."

The final performance of the night came from Lissadell Céilí Band, winners of the senior Céilí band competition.

Earlier performances included Belfast-based Campbell College Bugles, Pipes and Drums and Bangor singer Foy Vance.

Lord Mayor of Belfast councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly officially brought the fleadh to a close.

The eight-day event was jointly hosted by Belfast City Council, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) and Ards CCÉ.

Donnelly, said: "Words cannot do justice to how proud I am of this city and the magic that it has produced over the last eight days.

"Our spirit, our craic and our shared love of music, from all our different communities, have all been embraced and displayed for everyone to enjoy."

She described the event as a "watershed moment" adding: "A sign of our city's strength, ambition and future potential. Fleadh 2026 has surpassed all of our expectations."

John Walsh, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said bringing the Fleadh to the city "has been a long time in the making".

"Seeing it come to life on our streets this past week will live long in the memory.

"Whether you volunteered, performed or became a proud tourist in your hometown, your support, co-operation and positivity have all been essential in making the event such a huge success – I hope to see you all at the Fleadh again, 1-8 August 2027."

Dr Labhrás O Murchú from CCÉ said the event was "unprecedented".

"Belfast opened its doors and hearts to the multitudes who came from far and near for this amazing celebration, which will have an encore in 2027.

"One million fans can say to Belfast 'you are the envy of the world', with perhaps billions worldwide aware of the cultural history made in August 2026."

The success of the Fleadh has prompted calls for Belfast city centre to be pedestrianised permanently.

A large zone in the city centre was created over the course of the festival.

Representatives from the Alliance Party from across Belfast have now written to the council and other bodies calling for a "comprehensive review of pedestrianisation" in the city centre.

South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl said the Fleadh showed "Belfast at its best, open, welcoming and full of life".

"When we design our streets around people instead of traffic, our city centre becomes somewhere people actually want to spend time, and that's good for our shops, our hospitality sector and as we've seen so clearly this week, our sense of civic pride".

She said accessibility had to be taken seriously, however.

"Any expansion has to be designed with disabled people and accessibility organisations from the start, not bolted on afterwards. That means looking properly at disabled parking, accessible drop-off points, public transport connectivity and wayfinding," she said.

Green Party councillor Brian Smyth said the "bottom line" is that the Fleadh "would not have worked without pedestrianisation in the city centre".

"I think it is starting a conversation with people," he said.

"This isn't some new, radical idea."

However disability campaign groups, such as Disabled People Against Cuts Northern Ireland (DPAC NI), have voiced concern.

On social media they said: "We've seen this played out elsewhere and it's disabled people who pay a price for 'progress'."

DPAC NI spokesperson Dermot Devlin said that "many disabled people can only walk or wheel short distances".

"We need to park or get off public transport close to our destinations."

He added that "further pedestrianisation" of the city centre "without significant mitigation will exclude many of us from our city".

"We have a right to access the city on an equal basis to everyone else. Like everyone else we use the city centre as a place to shop, a place to work and place to go out in.

"Agencies involved in making permanent or temporary changes to the city centre must uphold our rights, not ignore them."