Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann a boost to County Wexford

Wexford town has been chosen to host the 2024 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an event that could see up to 700,000 people descend on the town and be worth up to €60 million to the local economy. The Fleadh will run from August 4 - 11, 2024.

George Lawlor

Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council PRO Comhaltas Craobh Loch Garman

The awarding of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to Wexford following a competitive bid process over the past year can only be described as a huge injection of positivity and confidence in Wexford town, the entire county of Wexford, the local authorities of Wexford, and the business community within Wexford.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the biggest event of its kind in the world. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, some 700,000 people attended the event in Drogheda in 2019. It is our ambition that Fleadh 2024 will be the biggest ever held in the history of Fleadhanna.

As a town, structurally, Wexford is ideally placed to be the host venue for such an enormous event. Whilst no location in Ireland can comfortably accommodate the vast numbers that will descend on the town from all across the world, it is our belief that Wexford will step up to the mark, and ensure that all forms of accommodation will be utilised to the fullest. This includes hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, campsites, temporary campsites and, indeed, people inviting visitors into their homes.

Collaboration

The tender process involved a collaboration between the local Comhaltas branch, Craobh Loch Garman, and Wexford County Council. We believe this collaborative approach was the winning formula which saw Wexford given the nod over Belfast, which had put forward a substantial bid for the event.

The event itself will require a massive volunteer effort, and we will be working in cooperation with the Wexford Volunteer Centre to achieve the necessary numbers to assist in making this a very special and efficient event.

Economic benefits

The estimated return to the economy of Wexford is thought to be in the region of €60 million. However, if the numbers increase as we expect them to, then the return could indeed exceed this and many local businesses will see the reward for their support for this event on their bottom lines. From a Wexford County Council point of view, we believe that our underpinning and investment of this event will be very economically beneficial to the businesses of County Wexford.

Allied to the obvious economic benefits will be the cultural legacy that hosting this event will leave. We believe that this investment in Irish culture, music, song, and dance will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. From a touristic point of view, we feel that the exposure County Wexford will receive will also have long-lasting impacts and will see return visits from many of those who will attend the Fleadh.

It will be a constant shoulder to the plough from the Fleadh Executive Committee, which is made up of people from right across the social, economic, and community spectrum of County Wexford for the next 15 months.

Roll on August 4, 2024, when we see the curtain rise on what we hope will be a spectacular Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

PADDY BERRY

President of Craobh Local Garman

I have attended over 60 Fleadh Cheoil in my time and I will now realise my dream of filling the streets of Wexford with Irish traditional music, culture, song, and dance in 2024. I know that the passion and enthusiasm of our Bid team, Wexford County Council, and our partners in the local community will make the Wexford Fleadh a huge success.”

BARBARA WALSH

Chairperson, Craobh Loch Garman Comhaltas

We are thrilled, honoured, and humbled by the successful vote we have received from the Ard Comhairle of Comhaltas, both for our town and in the members of our voluntary bid committee who have put in a huge amount of work to help us achieve this result today.

TOM ENRIGHT

Chief Executive, Wexford County Council

This announcement provides strong validation of the work the local Comhaltas branch, the Bid Team, and our wider partners have put into this effort. I would like to pay particular tribute to our local elected members, who voted unanimously to provide budgetary support from the Council towards this event which will generate over €50 million in the local economy each year.

BRENDAN CROWLEY

President, County Wexford Chamber

Everything within our gift will be dedicated to ensuring that the event will be an outstanding success, a positive experience for competitors, students, visitors, and the local communities of County Wexford and our neighbours both near and far.