Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí returns to Mullingar
500+ entrants gear up for local celebration of traditional Irish culture
Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí returns to Mullingar for the first time in eight years when more than 500 competitors and their families will descend on the town – the birthplace of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann – Friday to Sunday, May 8-10, for a celebration of Irish traditional music, dance and culture.
Nearly three years on from the hugely successful back-to-back All-Ireland Fleadhanna, which drew more than 1.1 million visitors to the town during two unforgettable summers, the legacy of those landmark events continues to bear fruit. Membership of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branches in Westmeath has surged, and Mullingar CCÉ, host branch for this year’s county fleadh, hope to rekindle some of that remarkable ‘Homecoming’ spirit next weekend.
The festival promises a comprehensive schedule of competitions, seisiúin and social events that will have Mullingar bustling with music and excitement.
It starts at 7pm on Friday, with the launch of Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí 2026 on the Market Square. The festival will be officially opened by Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, president of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and top young musicians from local branches will perform on the square. Later that evening (9pm), traditional music and dance enthusiasts will have the well-appointed Comhaltas regional HQ Áras an Mhuilinn packed to the rafters for a céilí led by the popular Rise the Dust Céilí Band.
Elsewhere in Westmeath on Friday evening, at Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate, the county marching band competition will take place (6pm).
The core of the fleadh – the competitions – centre on Holy Family Primary School on the Ardmore Road (N91 AK6W), as the hundreds of competitors look to book their places in the Leinster Fleadh. Dancing competitions, as well as the U10 music contests, are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, from 10am and the U10 musicians from 2pm.
Registration opens at 9.15am and competitors are advised to arrive at the school early on both days.
The organising committee, led by Mullingar CCÉ branch chairman Noel Battle, have organised excellent facilities at the school to ensure the smooth running of all competitions. Food trucks will be stationed onsite across the two days and an overflow car park has been made available at the National Science Park on the Dublin Road.
For those looking to soak up the atmosphere outside the competition halls at Holy Family, an outdoor Seisiún Ceoil has been scheduled for 4pm on Saturday on the Market Square, and others are expected to take place at other venues around town later that evening.
On Sunday, attention turns to the music, singing, comhrá and associated competitions for all grades from U12 upwards, performances beginning at 10am and finishing late on Sunday with the céilí band and grúpaí ceoil contests.
Among the silverware up for grabs is a new trophy for the U12 grúpaí ceoil competition, the Noel Battle Perpetual Trophy.
There is also a new cup for the 12-15 céilí band competition, the Davy Joe Fallon Perpetual Cup (Davy Joe is honorary president of Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas).
A spiritual and cultural highlight of the weekend will be the Fleadh Mass as Gaeilge in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar on Sunday at 11am. Facilitated by the Most Rev Dr Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, the Mass will be celebrated by Rev Fr Phil Gaffney, Adm, Mullingar. It will feature local CCÉ musicians and the Mullingar Cathedral Choir under the direction of James Murphy, and will be recorded by Raidió na Gaeltachta.
The realisation of Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí 2026 is the result of immense community collaboration and meticulous planning between CCÉ’s Mullingar branch and the county executive. Financial backing has been provided by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann HQ, the Dept of Culture, Communications and Sport, Westmeath County Council, North Midlands Credit Union, and local businesses – many of which will be advertised in the Fleadh’s 92-page clár.
Brendan Doyle, chairman of Westmeath CCÉ, stated: “I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome all visitors to Mullingar for Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí 2026. Mullingar has a proud musical tradition and provides an ideal setting for this year’s fleadh. I hope that everyone attending will enjoy the competitions and the many sessions and events throughout the town.
“I extend my sincere thanks to the local fleadh committee, volunteers, adjudicators, sponsors and all who have contributed to organising the event. Your dedication and community spirit are at the heart of Comhaltas, and without your efforts, the fleadh would not be possible. I also wish to thank my colleagues on the county board executive for their continued hard work and commitment.”
Noel Battle added: “As chairperson of Mullingar CCÉ for many years, I am thrilled to see how the branch has progressed. The success of the All-Ireland Fleadhanna 2022 and 2023 has, without doubt, contributed to where we are today. We have record numbers of children and adults attending our weekly classes.
“I would like to thank our hard-working committee for their work and dedication and for the extra work the hosting of Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí 2026 entails. Thanks also to the tutors for their teaching and commitment, and to the parents who greatly contribute by supervising the classes and for their help at events.”
The fact that this year’s county fleadh is in Mullingar carries added significance given that 2026 marks 75 years since Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was founded at a gathering in the Midland Hotel (now Columbia Bar) on Mount Street. That anniversary will be celebrated in August with further local events – part of a national programme of commemoration by Comhaltas.
Keep an eye out on Westmeath CCÉ or Mullingar CCÉ on Facebook over the weekend of May 8-10 for updates from Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí.
Bígí linn!