Co Antrim Fleadh 2024

Portglenone CCE hosts County Antrim Fleadh 2024 

Mon 15th April   -   Sun 21st April 

The Antrim Fleadh is always a very special occasion. It is the biggest gathering of musicians and followers of Irish Traditional music within the county and is always a very enjoyable occasion. This year, the County Fleadh in Portglenone has changed from the usual three-day weekend format to a full weeks Festival of Irish Traditional music, song, dance and of course the Irish language, culture, and community to celebrate the formation of the Portglenone CCE Branch fifty years ago. 

Portglenone CCE was established back in 1973 by a group of devoted Irish Traditional music lovers under the guidance of Ann and Colm O'Brien, Matt Mc Ateer, Edith Reid, Joe Clarke, Willis Patton, and Brian Quinn. The baptism took place in The Wild Duck Inn in 1974 when at the first A.G.M. the infant CCE Branch was declared a fully-fledged member of Comhaltas. 

Over the last 50 years, the Portglenone branch has matured and blossomed with almost 100 children and adults receiving weekly tuition in instrumental music and song on Monday evenings or participating in our Wednesday evening junior sessions in The Wild Duck Inn. 

There are a wide variety of events organised for the Fleadh festival and there is something for everyone. It all starts off with the young traditional singers at the Junior Singing Session on the Monday evening in The Bank Building on Main Street from 6.30pm to 7.15pm. This is followed by an Historical Talk presented by local historian, Thomas McErlean, about ‘The Townlands of Portglenone’ open to all from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, again in The Bank Building. 

Tuesday’s events cater for the local community beginning with a Mindfulness session led by ‘The Calm Kit’ which aims to Promote positivity for children using movement, song, story, and creativity. This will be hosted by Katie Carey from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in The Men’s Shed building on Main Street. This is followed by a talk by Ronan Gilchrist from the organisation ALPS (All Lives Are Precious) who working collectively, purposefully, and deliberately aim to improve access to services and positive outcomes for all with regards to Mental Health and Wellbeing. Ronan will host his session in The Men’s Shed from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. 

The Junior Irish Traditional Music Session will kick off Wednesday’s events from 7.00pm to 8.00pm in The Mallard Suite at The Wild Duck Inn led by the Portglenone CCE Junior musicians. This will be followed by a Trá na gCeisteanna (Table Quiz) in The Mallard Suite commencing at 8.15pm and hosted by the mother and son team of Maire and Cillian Darragh. 

Thursday’s main event will be the County Fleadh Céilí. Music will be provided by The Dunloy Céilí Band and the Caller for the evening will be Diarmuid Ó Bhruadáir. The Céilí will be held in The Mallard Suite at The Wild Duck Inn starting at 8.00pm 

On Friday evening we have the Official Fleadh Opening Concert with a host of talent lined up for your entertainment kicking off at 7.30pm in The Riverside Suite in The Wild Duck Inn with the delightful Portglenone CCE Junior Group performing during the first half of the night. After the break, we are so very proud to host the wonderful legendary local folk group, Déanta, who have recently reformed after a 20-year sabbatical and who are leading our 50th Anniversary Year celebrations. This will undoubtedly be followed by a session into the wee small hours but not forgetting the competitions early the next morning. 

On Saturday 20th April the competitions will run all day in St. Mary’s Primary School, from 10.00 am. Competitions are for all age groups and all Irish Traditional instruments and singing/lilting/whistling. Entry for these is to be submitted to the County Secretary by 8/03/24. You can download the Fleadh Entry Form from our website at http://www.portglenonecce.org.uk/ 

Competitions continue on Sunday 21st April with the Fleadh Céilí Band and Grupai Cheoil Competitions which are held in The Riverside Suite at The Wild Duck Inn from 12pm - 3pm. The competitions always provide excellent entertainment and are open to the public. The competitions will be followed by the County Antrim branches of Comhaltas performing throughout the day in the town centre commencing at 3pm. There will also be a ‘Slow Session’ in The Men’s Shed commencing at 5.00pm for those who prefer things a little less pacey. 

Excellent music, song and dance will be performed by Comhaltas groups and others from around the County and province of Ulster and further afield. On top of all this there will be many impromptu sessions taking place in the local streets and pubs around the town. 

The organising committee would also like to thank all our sponsors who have supported the Fleadh either financially or any other way. 

 See Programme of Events below: