Kelly launches Ardoyne Fleadh

Gerry Kelly

With a week to kickoff, the organisers of this year's Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoil have promised a packed programme of events, featuring talent from around the world. Artists such as Folk Rose from Italy, Coffee Iranda from France, as well as home grown acts like the Wolfe Tones, Luka Bloom and Sinéad Quinn, will grace venues across Ardoyne.

The 2004 Fleadh was launched by Sinn Féin North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly on Friday 23 July. Stressing the local importance of the event, he said: "If culture means anything, it is about a community describing itself, its people showing the positivity of the area in which they live. This is exactly what the Ardoyne Fleadh does. It has been a struggle through the years to keep the Fleadh running, but I know that if there was no money, some kind of celebration would still be held in Ardoyne.

"This is one of the good stories to come out of Ardoyne and goodness knows we have suffered enough negativity of late," said Kelly. "The Fleadh is needed now more than ever."

Father Aidan Troy, also present, praised the enormous effort of the organisers. The Fleadh represents a good news story coming out of Ardoyne, he said.

Organiser Kevin McVeigh said he can't wait for the Fleadh to begin. "There's so much going on, from debates, sport, music and drama to craic agus cheoil. There is something for everyone."

The Ardoyne Fleadh begins on Saturday 7 August and runs until Sunday 15 August. For further information, contact Fleadh chairperson Thomas Williams on 07708489430 or the Fleadh office on 02890751056.