Week of music and dance lined up at Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan

The opening ceremony of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2025 will take place in Cork this week.

The event, on July 11, will be held at City Hall from 6pm, before moving to the Curtis Auditorium of Munster Technological University’s (MTU) School of Music, on Union Quay, from 8pm to 9.45pm.

The ceremony at City Hall, marking the beginning of the week-long festival, will be followed by the official opening concert of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2025, performed by traditional Irish band Téada.

Fleadh na Mumhan, which has been running since 1961, is the largest provincial fleadh in Ireland, operated under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish culture, including music, language, song, and dance.

This year’s Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, in a range of venues across Cork, will run from July 11 to July 19, and will feature a diverse selection of activities and events, focused on the promotion and enjoyment of Irish culture.

Events on day one, July 12, include a traditional singing workshop for children with singer Danielle Ní Chéilleachair at Cork City Library, from 11am; a street entertainment competition on Oliver Plunkett St, from 2pm; a youth session in the walled garden at Nano Nagle Place, from 4pm; and a concert with Peter Street at An Spailpín Fánach, from 8pm.

Day two of the festival, July 13, includes a special Mass, Aifreann na Fleidhe, at St Peter and Paul’s Church on Paul St, from 10am.

Activities on day three and day four, July 14 and 15, include an Ogham carving workshop, with Fiach Rua Timbercraft, at Bishopstown Library, from 11.30am; an adult scéalaíocht session with The Lantern Project at Nano Nagle Place, from 3pm; the fleadh at Cork Penny Dinners, from 6pm; and a pop-up Gaeltacht event at the Old Oak, from 7pm.

Day five of the festival, July 16, will feature a Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan dance competition at the MTU arena in Bishopstown, from 9am; a trad/rap collaboration for Tenens, in conjunction with the Cork Migrant Centre, at the secret garden in Nano Nagle Place, from 3pm; and Cork Coffee House Lates trad-music sessions, from 6pm.

Also on July 16, a walking tour of Cork city with Independent councillor for the south-east ward, Kieran McCarthy, will take place from 6.30pm, departing from the National Monument on Grand Parade; as will a sean-nós dancing workshop with Deirdre Kerins at the Firkin Crane, from 7pm.

Events on day six, July 17, include a second round of dance competitions at the MTU arena in Bishopstown, from 9.30am; a workshop with Scoil Fonn and Amhrán at MTU, from 11am; a slide and polka workshop at MTU, from 11am; a scéalaíocht session for children aged 5-10, with Siobhán Ní Mhuimhneacáin, at Cork City Library, from 11am; a gig rig at Elizabeth Fort, from 5.30pm; another round of trad sessions with Cork Coffee House Lates, from 6pm; and a night-time scéalaíocht session with Fear an Tí, Dick Beamish, at An Spailpín Fánach, from 8pm.

The fleadh headline concert will also take place on day six, July 17, featuring performances from Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden, and Seamie O’Dowd, at the Curtis Auditorium MTU School of Music on Union Quay, from 8pm.

A fleadh sessions trail will also take place on July 17, across a number of city centre pubs.

Day seven, July 18, will feature a further round of dance competitions at the MTU arena, from 9.30am; another gig rig at Elizabeth Fort, from 5.30pm; a fleadh singers’ night, hosted by Jim Walsh, of the Cork Singers’ Club, at An Spailpín Fánach, from 8pm; a CD launch from Alan Finn, Joanne Quirke, Paul Clesham, and Fionn O’Hanlon at The Oliver Plunkett, from 8pm; a fleadh céilí with Hammer the Floor Céilí band at Douglas GAA Club, from 8.30pm; and a performance from the Fleadh Club, featuring Greta Curtin, Jessie Healy, Kealan O’Connor, Seán Leahy, and the Taobh na Meara Céilí band at the Crane Lane Theatre, from 10pm.

The final day of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, July 19, will include an ultimate round of dance competitions at the MTU arena in Bishopstown, from 10am; and a gig rig at Elizabeth Fort, with a family-friendly céilí, from 4.30pm.

July 19 will also include a closing concert with Tara Breen, Jim Murray, and Pádraig Rynne at An Spailpín Fánach, from 8pm; followed by a performance from the Fleadh Club, featuring the Shandrum Céilí band and a trad disco at the Crane Lane Theatre, from 10pm.

A fleadh sessions trail will also take place on this day across a number of city centre pubs.

• For further information, visit: https://www.munsterfleadh.ie/