Fleadhs

Fleadhs are Irish traditional music and cultural festivals featuring competitions, performances, and social gatherings centered on traditional Irish music, song, and dance. The word fleadh comes from the Irish Gaelic for a festival or feast. In common usage, fleadhs are organized by bodies such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and may run over several days in towns and venues, including schools, town halls, and outdoor stages. The programme centers on competitive classes for solo and ensemble playing, including instruments such as fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, accordion, concertina, and harp, as well as sean-nós song and ballad singing, and dance disciplines like céilí and set dancing. Competitions are typically divided by instrument or voice and by age group, with winners progressing to higher-level events.

Regionally, fleadhs culminate in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the premier national event, usually held in late summer. Regional fleadhanna feed entries into the All-Ireland, which is accompanied by concerts, workshops, and informal music sessions and attracts audiences from across Ireland and abroad.

Historically, fleadhs arose from Irish cultural revival efforts in the 20th century and have expanded globally, with events in North America, Britain, and mainland Europe reflecting the international reach of traditional Irish music. Fleadhs serve to preserve and promote traditional repertoire, provide a platform for young musicians, and support community identity and tourism.