A BUSY weekend of events is underway as Belfast hosts the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann competitions this weekend, with 5,000 musicians and dancers from 22 countries taking part. 

Competition judging is taking place at the ICC/Belfast Waterfront Hall, Assembly Buildings, The MAC and Ulster University and runs throughout the day.

As well as the Fleadh competitions, there’s plenty to enjoy elsewhere in the city.

There is a packed programme of music and dance at the Gig Rig outside City Hall, includng an open air céilí at 3pm – no experience required, just bring yourself and a smile!

The dancing will go on into the night with Céilí House Live playing at 9pm, Glór na dTonn Céilí Band at 10.10pm and the high energy MecLir really bringing the party at 11pm. No tickets are required for Gig Rig events and there’s no need to book. 

Also happening today:

  • Liam F Jones Album Launch, the Barge, 12 noon (free) 
  • Wexford Singers at the Europa, 12 noon-2pm (free) 
  • Belfast Uke Jam, Victoria Square, 2pm (free) 
  • Parading Music in Ulster and Beyond, Grand Opera House 2.30pm (£5) 
  • Soultrane Takeover, Oh Yeah Centre, 7pm (free)

 Families can enjoy:

  • The Legend of Finn MacCool and the Scottish Giant, Arts for All, Cityside Retail Park, 10am, 11.30am (free) 
  • Beat Carnival, Flaxx Social Space, 2pm-4pm (free) 
  • Ship/Shape Currach Circus, St Joseph’s Church, Sailortown, 2pm (free) 
  • MOIRO (Music of Irish Origin) featuring Panic:Over with EVO, Becky McNeice, Noble Johnston, Antwan Ruiz and Neal McClelland at 2 Royal Avenue, 7 - 11pm (tickets free - £10 from Eventbrite, under 5’s go free)

 Elsewhere in the city:

South Belfast

  • Brink! Lughnasadh Circles, a five-hour ambient composition by Rory Friers rooted in ancient Irish Solstice traditions and the quiet symbolism of stone circles, The Commons, Ormeau Road 4.09pm - 9.09pm - drift in and out, listen closely, or let the sounds wash over you (£5)

 West Belfast

  • Walls of Limerick Céilí, St Gall’s GAC, 1pm (free) 
  • Meadows to Mountain long distance walk to Divis and back, St Gall’s GAC, 3pm (free) 
  • Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) are welcoming people to pop into their Irish language hub at The MAC before it wraps up tomorrow Sunday 9 August. And the Instrument Makers' Village at Belfast Met, Millfield Campus is open today and tomorrow (10am-3.30pm) for competitors and visitors to pop in and talk to makers of harps, violins and banjos - or treat themselves to something new!

There’s also a wide range of exhibitions on offer at venues including Craft NI, 2 Royal Avenue, Golden Thread Gallery, the grounds of Queen’s University Belfast, the QFT, St Joseph’s Sailortown, the Ulster Museum and Vault Studios.

There are plenty of tasty treats to enjoy too, with a Food and Drink Village beside Belfast Cathedral open from 10am to 11pm, St George’s Market open from 10am to 10pm, and the Craic and Craft Market outside ICC Belfast/Waterfront Hall with artisan craft vendors, food and drink producers, a Ferris Wheel, facepainting and entertainment from 10am-10pm.

Bestselling cookery writer, TV chef and teacher at Ballymaloe Cookery School, Rachel Allen, will also be cooking live at the Titanic Food Festival, Hamilton Dock (beside the SS Nomadic) at various times between 11am - 5pm.

Everyone attending the Fleadh is encouraged to:

  • check the weather forecast and dress appropriately 
  • leave extra time for your journey 
  • use public transport (including additional late-night bus services), cycle, wheel or walk where possible 
  • check travel information before setting out to familiarise yourself with road closures, Park and Ride facilities, the pedestrianised event zone and traffic arrangements 
  • check event locations and venue opening times 
  • follow event signage and steward directions 
  • look out for Volunteer Now in Fleadh branded yellow t-shirts and hats who will be helping visitors to access information, facilities and events easily

People are being encouraged to leave the car at home and use one of the three Fleadh Park and Ride sites as Belfast hosts the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann competitions this weekend, with 5,000 musicians and dancers from 22 countries taking part. 

The sites are located at Eikon Exhibition Centre, Sprucefield (near M1), Giant's Park (near M2) and Belfast Harbour Estate (near M3).

Park and Ride spaces can be booked in advance from fleadhcheoil.ie/travel/park-and-ride, or pay on the day, using contactless machines only, with all spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Frequent shuttle buses, running every 10 minutes at peak times are connecting all three Park and Ride sites to the city centre.

Bus services are expected to be very busy, so passengers should leave extra time and use the Translink Journey Planner.

Taxi services will continue to operate, with dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations located around the edge of the pedestrianised event zone, at Corporation Street, Little Donegall Street, junction of North Street and Royal Avenue, King Street, Adelaide Street and Chichester Street. Public hire taxis will operate as normal, where possible, with some temporary relocations at peak visitor times.