The vibrant Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has reached its halfway point, and the energy across Belfast shows no sign of stopping! While the city centre is alive with performances, family fun, talks, and pop-up street sessions, North Belfast is also playing a significant role in this incredible celebration of traditional Irish music and culture.
Today, Day 4 of the festival, saw fantastic community-based activities and live music sessions taking place in local venues, including one right here on the Antrim Road. A real highlight for our community was the Waterworks Stations Sessions featuring artist Clare Sands, which invited visitors to wander through the beautiful park, encountering storytellers, traditional musicians, poets, and dancers along their journey.
The festival continues to draw huge crowds, and to ensure everyone can move around safely, roads around City Hall – Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, East, and West – are closed to traffic until Sunday, August 9th. If you're planning a trip into the city centre, remember to make the most of public transport, the official Fleadh Park and Ride sites at Eikon Exhibition Centre, Giant’s Park, and Belfast Harbour, or consider walking and cycling. Planning your journey in advance and allowing extra time will help you navigate the buzz, with the latest travel updates available on the Translink website or through their Journey Planner app.
Beyond our own neighbourhood, the wider city is hosting over 90 events as part of the Fleadh's lively fringe programme. This evening, St Galls’ GAC has a free night of music with Loch Lao from 7pm, and storytelling at The Commons on Ormeau Road from 7:30pm. While some musical performances are now sold out, there are still tickets available for other unique events this week, bringing the spirit of the Fleadh closer to home.
Look out for Fuaimlaoi at St Peter’s Cathedral tomorrow (Thursday 6 August) at 7pm (tickets £5), and Trad in the Bullhouse at Bullhouse East on Upper Newtownards Road (Thursday, 8:30pm, free). There’s also a North Block Night Market on Friday 7 August from 7pm, street entertainment with Currach Circus at St Joseph’s Church, Sailortown on Saturday 8 August at 2:30pm, and trad sessions in local alleyways and community gardens in south Belfast on both Saturday and Sunday. The festival will culminate on Sunday with a Super Sunday Session at St Comgall’s, Falls Road, from 10:30am to 1pm, before music trails bid farewell to the Fleadh until next year!
For full details on all the exciting fringe events happening this week, visit the official Fleadh website at fleadhcheoil.ie.