Connacht Fleadh in Ballina to feature on TG4 next Sunday, August 6

The Connacht and inaugural community Fleadh in Ballina is set to feature in a one-hour special Fleadh programme on TG4 along with the Ulster, Munster and Leinster Fleadhanna next Sunday night, August 6,  at 9.30pm.

Much of the filming in Ballina took place at the competitions in the new St Mary’s Secondary School Campus.

The programme will feature music and interviews from many of the competitors including interviews with organisers of the Fleadh and an interview with Dr labhrás O’Murchú Director General of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann on the success of the Ballina Fleadh.

Glowing tributes have been paid to the organisers of the Connacht Fleadh in Ballina from Fleadh-goers all over the country who described the facilities at the new St Mary’s Secondary School as State of the Art and the finest venue the Fleadh has ever seen.

Fleadh Chairman John McDonnell and PRO, Eamonn Walsh have thanked the many Fleadh sponsors, volunteers, local organisations,groups and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the Connacht and Community Fleadh in Ballina.The event was a huge success and it drew crowds from all over Ireland throughout the week including overseas visitors from San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia.

The 2024 Connacht Fleadh will be hosted in Strokstown, Co. Roscommon.

PRO, Eamonn Walsh said “The recent Connacht Fleadh in Ballina is a stepping stone to another All-Ireland Fleadh for the town and county and he has paid tribute to Mayo County Council for their financial support down through the years - without the financial support of Mayo County Council, he  said that there would never be a Fleadh in the County. 

He has thanked Declan Turnbull Head of Ballina Municiple District and Clr John O’Hara for conveying a meeting two years ago with the local Comhaltas groups to discuss the feasibility of bringing the All-Ireland Fleadh back to Ballina.

Following a marathon meeting with the Council, he said “Our local Comhaltas groups got together and decided to host the Connacht Fleadh as a stepping stone and I am confident that it will lead to another All-Ireland Fleadh.”

He said will host the All-Ireland Fleadh this year and then it moves to Wexford town in 2024 and probably 2025 and Belfast which narrowly lost out to Wexford will be a strong contender for the 2026 event.

Eamonn said should start thinking about earmarking the 2027 All-Ireland Fleadh. The town he said is looking great with the new development at the Military Barracks and Market Square and the new State of the Art facilities in St Mary’s Secondary School. 

Director General of Comhaltas Labhrás O’Murchú who performed the official opening of the Fleadh said “Ballina has the atmosphere to host another All-Ireland Fleadh.He went on to say that the town ticks all the boxes”.

For many in Ballina, the Connacht Fleadh brought with it a sense of great nostalgia for the time the town hosted the All-Ireland Fleadh in 1997 and 1998.