"The Fleadh is the biggest traditional music event in Ireland and even if you aren't a fan of the music it's a wonderful experience."
- Tripadvisor
So there are a lot of people out there who have never heard of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann before, which is entirely understandable as it is one of those uniquely Irish things, you just don't quite understand until you experience one of them in person.
However, throughout this article, I am going to do my best to explain to you what exactly the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is and what happens at it.
What is Fleadh Cheoil na Héireann?
The Fleadh Cheoil is an Irish music festival run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, a non-profit organisation. Every summer, a host town on the island of Ireland welcomes musicians, dancers and traditional performers of all kinds from across the island and globe for a rip-roaring traditional music celebration.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, is the world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, you can expect street performers, intimate concerts, big-name acts and over 150 competitions showcasing the very best of traditional music talent.
This is your chance to really immerse yourself in Ireland’s musical heritage. Get your toes tapping at a traditional céilí dance, soak up the atmosphere of a trad session in a cosy pub or take in the delights of a street parade. You can even practice your ‘cúpla focal’ (few words) for the craic.
A Brief History of Fleadh Cheoil na Héireann.
The Comhaltas was founded in Mullingar in 1951. The first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was held in Mullingar in 1951, and in 1953 Athlone was the host town. The first two were small events but by 1963, when Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann returned to Mullingar, the event was transformed, and the gathering was huge.
Traditional Irish entertainment takes over every inch of the streets during a Fleadh Ceoil. From people playing the spoons to Irish dancers.
Since Fleadhanna was first organised, the informal street session has been a huge attraction, and indeed emphasises the unique nature of the Fleadhanna.
In recent years, the Fleadh, by its very nature of drawing big crowds, has also attracted a wide variety of street entertainment. The Comhaltas believe that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is an occasion where the playing of traditional Irish music should take precedence over other forms of street entertainment and so whichever town hosts the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, can not have any motor vehicles driving through the streets for the two weeks of the festival, the town is accessible by pedestrians only.
Competitions at The Fleadh
During Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Comhaltas runs a number of annual festivals of Irish traditional music, song, dance, and language called Fleadh Cheoil translated literally “Festival (or feast) of Music.”
The Fleadh encompasses a range of entertainment activities including concerts, céili/set dancing, traditional sessions, etc plus competitions in music, song, language and dances at the local (County/Region), provincial and All-Ireland levels. Competitors at the Fleadh are of any age and come from around the world to compete.
There are over 150 competitions which are broken into the following four age categories: under 12, 12-15, 15-18 and Senior.
The instrumental competitions include most traditional Irish instruments including the Fiddle, Flute, Uilleann Pipes, banjo, accordion, etc... There are competitions for singing, both in English and in Irish and also for ensembles such as pipe and ceílí bands, duets and trios, etc...
Competitors from regions with qualifying rounds must first qualify at the regional level before competing in the championship round. In Ireland, for example, musicians must be among the prizewinners in their County and then Provincial Fleadh before heading to the final round at the All-Ireland.
At each level, the competitor faces one or more Adjudicators (Judges), renowned experts in the performance and repertoire of Irish traditional music. Adjudicators make careful notes of each performance, which are then made available to the competitor after the event.
Spectators will also crowd the room, including friends, family, and well-wishers. At the end of the competition, the adjudicator announces the results and often gives a few notes on what they were looking for in the performances.
Why You Should Attend At Least One Fleadh Cheoil in Your Lifetime
A Fleadh Cheoil is the perfect mixture of Irish music and culture. If you think St.Patricks Day fills Irish people with Pride and Joy, you ain't seen anything yet.
The Fleadh Cheoil is the world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance. We get to celebrate being nuts basically!
If you're on TikTok or YouTube you'll see even when an Irish person leaves home, we bring 2 things, our patriotic spirit and our music. I'm forever seeing clips online of Irish people breaking into "session" randomly, whether it's just a Cranberries or Wolftones song being belted at the top of their lungs on a sofa at a party or a full-on Irish Dancing, banjo and tin whistle playing, crowd singing Fields of Athenry on a Train session, when it hits us, we let it.
Well, that's what a Fleadh is, one giant celebration of being proud of Irish culture, singing and dancing in the streets to the musicians playing the songs that tug at our soul.
So why not join the party?
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann today announced Mullingar as the venue for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2023. Why not visit Mullingar from 6th to 14th August?
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