This year’s Ardoyne fleadh has been hailed as a great success by organisers, with over 5000 people attending a free concert last Saturday night.

The four-day event saw music sessions, an open-air concert, a trip to Dublin Zoo and lectures and sport between Thursday and Sunday. On Saturday night a concert by ska band Dog House and a Kings of Leon tribute band saw almost 5000 people pack into the pitch for a night of entertainment.

Paul McCusker from the fleadh organising committee said the people of the area came out in their droves to enjoy the programme of events.

“It was a real success and all the events were very well attended and went off very well,” he said.

“We had 120 people going to Dublin Zoo on Saturday and a across community football match which is helping to build relationships with the other community. We also had almost 5000 people at the concert, which was great and went brilliantly. It was one of our best attended events for a number of years.”

He said after the recent negative press coverage about rioting in the area following the Orange Order parade, the people of Ardoyne came together to enjoy themselves.

“It showed the real spirit of the community after the recent negativity,” he added.