County Fleadh returns after three-year break

IN a further return to normality after two years of pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, it has been announced that the Tyrone Fleadh Cheoil will take place in Coalisland on the first weekend in June.

The celebration of Irish music and culture will take place from Friday, June 3 to Sunday 5. It is a welcome return after a three-year hiatus, with the last Tyrone Fleadh held in Omagh in 2019.

The Fleadh encompasses a range of entertainment activities, including a host of competitions for underage and senior categories, with competitors trying to impress the adjudicators and make it through to the Ulster finals. The competitions include most traditional Irish instruments, such as the fiddle; flute; uilleann pipes; and accordion, while there are solo singing contests, both in Irish and English and also for ensembles (duets and trios). An army of volunteers will organise the weekend of events, which is expected to draw competitors from throughout Tyrone, and lovers of traditional music and culture from all of Ulster and, indeed, further afield.

The Tyrone Fleadh has previously been hosted in Coalisland five times, in 1983; 1989; 1995; 2003; and 2014.

Eamonn Campbell, chair of Coalisland Clonoe Comhaltas, is delighted that the Tyrone Fleadh is coming back – and especially to Coalisland.

He said, “It promises to be a great weekend. Previous Fleadhs held in Coalisland were very well run, and very popular. Everyone will have a great time, and it is fantastic after the last two years, that everything is getting back to the what it used to be.

“There will be music on the Thursday night, although it will officially open on the Friday. There is a big schedule of events and competitions being prepared.”

While the focal point is the competitions, in keeping with Fleadh tradition, there will be impromptu music sessiuns in bars and on the streets (weather permitting) throughout the weekend.

Eamonn added, “We expect there will be huge crowds. Blackwatertown Ceili Band will play an open air concert at the official opening, and on the Sunday, there will be a big cultural parade through the town, which will include GAA and sports clubs, and other local community organisations. The Tyrone Fleadh has the reputation of being one of the best county Fleadhs in Ireland, and this won’t be any different. It will be a fabulous weekend.”