Streets to be alive to the sound of trad as Munster Fleadh Cheoil returns to Cork

Lovers of traditional music and those who enjoy a good ‘seisiún’ are advised to mark July 11-19 in their calendars as the streets of Cork will be resounding to lively jigs and reels when Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan/the Munster Fleadh Cheoil returns to Cork for the first time since 2017.

The 10-day festival is likely to attract at least 30,000 visitors to the city, and its organisers hope that it will lay the foundations for a bid by Cork city to host the All Ireland Fleadh in 2028.

According to Ger O’Driscoll, chairperson of the organising committee and a long-time member of Douglas Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the hope is that the city would put in a bid to follow in the heels of Wexford, where it is being held in August for the second year in succession, and Belfast where it will take place next year and possibly in 2027.

“Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan has been held in Cork County on 12 previous occasions so this is the 13th time it’s being held in Cork and the second time in Cork city,” said Mr O’Driscoll.

“I would love to see Cork City Council bidding for it for a two-year period after Belfast. That’s why we’re looking to put on a strong Fleadh programme this year to highlight the potential of it in the city and for people to come out and enjoy it, and have a bit of craic and fun.”

The Munster Fleadh starts with an event in Cork City Hall at 6pm on Friday, July 11, before moving to the Cork School of Music for a full concert later that night. That first weekend will see sessions on the streets of the city as well as free trad music events in cafés which will be open late that weekend.

A pub seisiún trail involving at least 30 licensed premises across the city has been organised for the second weekend and there will be plenty of music events in venues across the city, with concerts pencilled in for Nano Nagle Centre and a late-night Fleadh club in the Crane Theatre. The competitions get underway on Thursday, July 17, with dancing and comhrá Gaeilge and scéalaíocht while events like the Munster final of the Céili Band and Musical Group contests take place on Friday and Saturday.