Fleadh set to benefit all Louth communities
400,000 VISITORS EXPECTED DURING WEEK LONG EVENT THIS AUGUST
FLEADH Cheoil 2018 might have been secured by Drogheda, but organisers say it is a week long event that will benefit the entire county.
Fleadh Cheoil na Heireann will take place in Drogheda from Sunday 12th August to Sunday 19th August 2018. It will feature workshops for young musicians, competitions, concerts, singing, ceillis and lots of events throughout the week.
In a special presentation to Louth County Council last week, Lolo Robinson, Cathaoirleach Drogheda Comhaltas and Padraic Kierans, Fleadh Executive committee told the meeting there were just over 130 days until Drogheda would host the biggest event of its kind in Ireland this year.
They revealed that upwards of 400,000 visitors are expected to the town over the course of the Fleadh, and there would be competitions held in 27 different venues.
It will cost an estimated €1.4 million to host the Fleadh, and fundraising is ongoing, including the search for corporate sponsors.
A 2,000 seater dome at St. Dominic’s Park is being planned for the event along with a ‘gig rig’ from where twelve hours of music will be performed every day during the Fleadh.
Fleadh TV will be broadcasting four nights of events from Drogheda, to an audience in excess of 60,000.
The organisers explained how accommodation has proved one of the biggest challenges.
Already all hotel and B&B and guesthouse accommodation in Drogheda has been booked for the event.
A campsite which will accommodate up to 3,000 people set on 26 acres at St. Fechins complex is being set up, with a bus shuttle service in and out of the town
But the challenge to accommodate all visitors to the town has seen the Fleadh Cheoil na Heireann organising committee calling on people across Louth to consider renting out a spare room, or their entire home, to some of the visitors who will attend the festival in August.
Lolo Robinson said: ‘ The people of County Louth are no strangers to opening up their homes to visitors and giving them a Céad Mile Fáilte to remember.’
She added that renting out a room would give the visitors a first-hand experience of what a real Irish welcome is.
Padraic Kierans added that along with the ‘phenomenal’ experience of hosting the Fleadh, it was ‘important both from a Comhaltas perspective and a tourism perspective that we build a legacy.’
‘ This will be the biggest audience that will attend any event in Ireland this year,’ he added
He said the committee were getting ‘a lot of positive engagement’ from across Louth, but welcomes any support, including volunteers, sponsorship, the renting out of homes etc from any part of the county.
‘ The impact of the Fleadh will be felt all the way from Carlingford to Baltray. It will be a fantastic event.’
Dundalk Councillor, Maeve Yore, congratulated the committee on their work to date. She added that she is volunteering at the Fleadh and looked forward to its success.
But she asked if accessibility for disabled people was being taken into account.
Director of Services at Louth County Council, Paddy Donnelly said accessibility was one of the key themes for the Fleadh, and among the many measures being taken was to ensure that all infrastructure being provided was accessible for all.
Cllr. Oliver Tully said he wished the committee ‘every success in hosting the Fleadh’ adding ‘I look forward to seeing Drogheda, and Louth, showed off to its very best.’
Cllr. Dolores Minogue said that she was ‘delighted’ Drogheda was hosting the Fleadh, and agreed that it will be a ‘whole County Louth event.’
Cllr. Mark Dearey said securing the Fleadh was the ‘ultimate prize’ congratulating all involved in the process.
‘One of the legacies that I hope will come from hosting the Fleadh is that Drogheda and Dundalk together we are better, and that this will ensure we appreciate our joint heritage.’
He asked if transport was being looked at, and in particular the frequency of rail services.
Mr. Kierans said the committee had been in touch with all transport providers, all of whom, except Iarnrod Eireann, were looking at putting on extra services during the Fleadh.
He added that Iarnrod Eireann may review their services closer to the event happening.
Cllr. Anne Campbell added that it was an opportunity also to host a ‘Green Fleadh’.
She asked if the environmental aspect of hosting the event of this size, and in particular dealing with the waste emerging had been assessed.
She also suggested the ‘ keep cups’ which could be Fleadh branded and would cut down on the large amount of disposable coffee cups which would likely be used.
Discounts for people reusing the keep cups would encourage less disposable cups, she added.
The council heard a waste provider for the event is set to be appointed at some stage in April, and organisers will be looking at a number of initiatives which would reduce the environmental impact of an event this size.
Cllr. Frank Godfrey asked who would foot the bill if the Fleadh ‘ lost money’ citing the case of Ennis, where money had been lost in hosting the event.
Mr. Donnelly said the organisers were focused on ensuring the Fleadh was a success, adding ‘We are not intending to lose money, it is not an option we are looking at.’
Councillors also queried who the headline acts might be to launch the Fleadh, but were told these were ‘a closely guarded secret.’
Mr. Donnelly quipped ‘Although I do believe the Pope is visiting Ireland in the summer!’
Anyone across Louth can register their interest in taking part in the Fleadh by for example volunteering, providing sponsorship or renting out accommodation by visiting www.droghedacomhaltas.com, contacting their main office on 041 98 76178 or by e-mailing drogheda. acc2018@gmail.com