Mayo delegation visit All-Ireland Fleadh on 'fact-finding mission'

A DELEGATION from Mayo County Council has travelled to the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford in a fact-finding mission in the hope of bringing it back to Ballina.

Over 600,000 people have converged on Wexford town this week for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann which will run all week until Monday, August 11. Up to 6,500 competitors are taking part in the Fleadh which was officially opened on Sunday by President Michael D Higgins and is worth an estimated €60 million to the local economy.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was last held in Ballina in 1998 and concerted efforts are underway to bring the Fleadh back to Co Mayo in 2028. A delegation from Mayo County Council has travelled to Wexford on a fact-finding mission and campaigner and renowned piper, Eamonn Walsh believes it is time the Fleadh returns to the banks of the Moy.

“If you think about the scale of the event the whole of Mayo would benefit and the accommodation bank would be spread throughout the county including parts of Sligo. Knock Airport in particular would benefit from thousands of overseas tourists to the Fleadh,” said Mr Walsh, who is part of the delegation.

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The Ballina native paid tribute to Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council for moving the campaign forward by facilitating a meeting between Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann officials and council officials in Áras an Chontae last February. He said a decision to send a delegation to Wexford on a fact-finding mission is making a lot of sense and hopes it will bear fruit.

In recent years, towns have hosted the Fleadh for two consecutive years with Sligo - the last town in Connacht to host the Fleadh - hosting it in 2014 and 2015.

Mr Walsh said that hosting a 'mammoth event' like the Fleadh requires the support of the local authority as it would be beyond the capabilities of any voluntary organisation.

“It is imperative that Mayo County Council are at the helm otherwise our application will fail. The cost of running the mammoth event is €1.9 million. No voluntary committee can take on such a major event – it requires professional manpower.”

This year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford has made headlines all over the world after world renowned singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran, who has family links to the county held an impromptu session in a local pub.

Mr Walsh called on multi-national companies in the county and Mayo business people worldwide to get behind the Fleadh with offers of sponsorship.

“Bringing the All-Ireland Fleadh to Mayo would be the equivalent of bringing Sam back to the county,” he added.