'The economic benefits would be incredible': Councils to join forces in bid to bring Fleadh Cheoil to Cork

Cork County Council will seek to join forces with the city council in a bid to bring Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to the region, a move that could deliver an estimated €100m economic boost.

County council chief executive Moira Murrell said officials would "100% work" with their counterparts in Cork City Council to develop the strongest possible bid.

Her comments came after Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury called for Cork to pursue hosting rights for the national festival in 2028 or 2029.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world's largest annual celebration of Irish traditional music, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors, performers, and musicians.

This year's event in Belfast was widely regarded as a major success, More than 1.6m visitors are estimated to have attended and the event will return to Belfast next August.

Ms Bambury said: “This should recognise the immense musical and cultural contribution of Co Cork, particularly the many successful Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branches throughout the county, which play a vital role in nurturing musicians, dancers, and singers. 

"The city’s working on a formal bid, but the vast majority of Comhaltas branches are in the county."

Ms Bambury added: “When Wexford held it in 2024 it generated €60m. Belfast held it recently and got £53m (€61.7m). We could get more at lots of different venues and generate €100m."

Proposal an excellent idea, says councillor

Fine Gael councillor Sinéad Sheppard, who chairs the council's arts committee and works as a dance teacher, said the proposal was an excellent idea.

“I’m involved in Comhaltas in Cobh and the amount of young people being introduced to traditional Irish music and dance is fantastic," she said. 

"Hosting the Fleadh would attract even more people to join these groups and the economic benefits would be incredible."

Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn said the county council should also write to the Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann director general Labhrás Ó Murchú expressing interest in hosting the event.

County council assistant chief executive Niall Healy said it would be supportive of collaborative engagement with Cork City Council, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Fáilte Ireland, Visit Cork, and other relevant stakeholders to explore opportunities for partnership and co-ordinated planning.

“Such co-operation would seek to maximise the benefits of the event for communities throughout Cork and ensure that the strengths, resources and cultural assets of the county contribute positively to the success of any hosting proposal,” said Mr Healy.