Key stakeholders to meet over Ballina's Fleadh Cheoil bid
Eamonn Walsh performing at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2023 in Mullingar. Picture: Andres Poveda
An ambitious bid to bring the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil back to Ballina will be discussed at a meeting in the town next Thursday.
Eamonn Walsh, a spokesperson for the local Comhaltas group, described the meeting with representatives of Mayo County Council as "hugely significant". The All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil was successfully held in Ballina in 1997 and 1998 and Mr Walsh hopes to bring it back to the town for 2028.
"The last time the Fleadh was held in Ballina it had a huge impact on young people and hundreds of young people have taken up Irish music as a result of what they witnessed at the Fleadh 26 years ago," said Mr Walsh, adding that the town and the wider North Mayo area have a great history of traditional Irish music. In particular, he mentioned the late Billy Rafter, a celebrated fiddle player from the Bofield area.
"There is a great tradition in Ballina, and the Moy Valley branch of Comhaltas covers the whole Moy Valley area from Killala to Lacken, Foxford and Crossmolina, all of those areas," he added.
Joe Connaire, who was the chairman of the hugely successful All-Ireland Fleadhanna in Mullingar in 2022 and 2023, will address the meeting and outline the benefits the Fleadh has brought to Mullingar and the wider region over the past two years. Some 600,000 people attended the 10-day event each year, generating up to €120 million for the local economy.
Michael Brennan former chairman of the Connacht Council of Comhaltas, who was in charge of venues for competitions at the All-Ireland Fleadhanna in Sligo and Mullingar, will advise the meeting on the number of venues required in Ballina.
Fianna Fáil Minister Dara Calleary TD will also attend the meeting along with Mags Downey-Martin, CEO, Ballina Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Hallinan Project Manager Ballina 2023 and Annette Maughan, CEO Moy Valley Resources.
Mr Walsh said the meeting is a unique opportunity for stakeholders in the region to have an input into the campaign.
Declan Turnbull, Head of Ballina Municipal District, and Cllr John O’Hara previously convened an All-Ireland Fleadh meeting with local Comhaltas branches in 2021 to address the prospect of bringing the Fleadh back to Ballina. The Connacht Fleadh was subsequently secured and it was a big success last year.
Anybody wishing to find out more about the Ballina Fleadh campaign is asked to get in touch by email: vippiper@eircom.net or Tel: 087-2775317
