First Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast sees 95% footfall surge
By Rebecca Black, Press Association
The first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to take place in Belfast has seen a 95% footfall increase in the city.
The celebration of Irish music and culture officially opened on Sunday in the city centre and also saw a trial of extended opening hours for shops.
It is set to go on until Sunday August 9 with more than 200 events and 180 traditional music competitions at venues, pubs and streets, projected to bring 800,000 to Belfast.
On Tuesday, crowds continued to pour into Belfast, including visitors from around the world.
Events on the Gig Rig main stage at City Hall included Irish dancing and musical acts including the McClean family, Ards CCÉ Entertainment Classes, Nigel Black, Tunes Translated, Oriel Traditional Orchestra, The Cedar Dobson Band, and Ruciteme Club.
One of the later performances saw a collaboration between Macalla, an eight-piece ensemble featuring artists from the Northwest Folk Collective in Derry and the Mshakht Collective from Iraq, blending the bouzouki and uilleann pipes with the qanun, oud, and local percussion.
Earlier this week, Stormont Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the Fleadh is projected to bring a £53 million (€62 million) economic boost to the city.
The Belfast One Business Improvement District (BID) has estimated that footfall in the city centre almost doubled on Sunday, up 95% from the same day last year to 176,462 people.
They said the figures were recorded by Belfast One BID cameras which track footfall for their district, one square mile around Belfast City Hall.
On Monday footfall figures showed an increase of 75% on the same day last year to 165,077, with a 126.3% increase on last week’s footfall figures.
Belfast One BID chief executive Martina Connolly hailed the figures.
“These figures are fantastic to see and are a real reflection of the excitement surrounding this year’s event,” she said.
“It’s been wonderful to be part of the opening days and to see so many people enjoying our city centre and the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere we strive so hard to deliver.
“We’re looking forward to what the rest of the week brings and to welcoming even more visitors and residents to Belfast for this world-class event.”
