Drogheda to host Fleadh Cheoil
‘Success at last’ declared Lolo Robinson, Chairperson of Drogheda Comhaltas, ‘Success at last!’
Drogheda was this week named as the host town for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018. The event is the world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, language, song and dance. It attracts approx. 400,000 visitors to the host town every year.
The event is organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. It will be hosted in conjunction with a local team in Louth led by Louth County Council and Drogheda Comhaltas.
‘It’s been a five year long campaign to reach this day’ she explained. ‘We’ve been supported since day one by Louth County Council. We couldn’t have achieved this success without their unequivocal support. Louth County Council and our team of dedicated volunteers from Drogheda Comhaltas and the wider community have campaigned tirelessly to win every crucial vote. We were hopeful, very hopeful, that the vote would go our way today. But you can’t be sure until all votes have been cast and counted.
Chief Executive of Louth County Council Joan Martin was delighted with the announcement. ‘ This truly is a momentous day for Drogheda and indeed for all of County Louth. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is a mammoth week-long event that will showcase all that the region has to offer to a huge audience. The eyes of the world will be on us. Over 32 hours of television is broadcast from the Fleadh. Countless radio shows and print and online journalists will cover the Fleadh, along with a host of travel and tourism writers. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase the beauty and vibrancy of the town and the region.’
Drogheda and its hinterland stand to gain immensely from hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr. Oliver Tully continued “It is estimated that hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is worth nearly €40million to the local economy’