By Dan Walsh at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2025 Sunday
Even before a note was played at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025 it was predicted by the organisers that “it would be the greatest Fleadh ever”, and how right they were with more than 700,000 people visiting over the eight days of ceol, ól agus failte mór go dtí Baile Loch Garman.
The public confidence in the successful event in 2024 inspired a greater universal interest and with the aid of marketing a household brand, aided superbly by the super summer weather that never weavered, and, of course, the families and crowds that took to the streets and the quayside – all the ingredients for a successful musical outdoor festival.
Today is the final day of the Fleadh and the crowds are enjoying every moment of it. It all ends on the Gig Rig at 11.30pm when Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will bid farewell to Wexford and prepare for 2026 in Belfast – and Wexford wishes Belfast all the enjoyment and success it brought to the south-east will transfer to the north-east.
We all have our memories of Fleadh 2025. President Michael D. Higgins and the First Lady, Sabina reminiscing about their great family memories of Wexford and being presented with farewell gifts as their 14 years in Áras an Uachtarain comes to an end with a Presidential Election in November.
World renowned tenor Anthony Kearns from Kiltealy sang‘Boolavogue’ (accompanied by Eithne Corrigan on keyboard) on the opening day – the crowd cheered loudly and Kearns loved every moment of it!
Then on Tuesday along comes Ed Sheerin, the world class performer with his roots in Monaseed, Gorey, who wrote a popular song about his grandmother called Nancy Mulligan.
He sang in The Sky and the Ground, entertained his legion of fans outside, dropped in to Mernagh’s of Oylegate and enjoyed food from PJ’s Diner.
The Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley turned up on the Gig Rig on Saturday playing the flute! Didn’t receive the same press coverage as Ed Sheerin. Broadcaster and former Minister for Agriculture Ivan Yates was also in town. And Elvis was present and performing on the Main Street during the week! Daniel O’Donnell was in town on Sunday and sang on the street and appeared on the live TG4 Fleadh television programme.
A new Guinness World Record was set when 1,018 musicians from Ireland and beyond gathered at Chadwick’s Wexford Park on Thursday to form the largest Céilí Band playing together.
Tunes played during the five minutes world record Ceilí Band achievement were ‘The Wexford Polka’, ‘The Gaelscoil Polka’, and ‘The Little Diamond’.
Glen Pollard from Guinness World Records officiated as the old world record was smashed.
For me personally, the highlights were simple; the tiny kids playing their instruments and singing along on the Main Street – these young talented performers of the future and their confidence at such a young age was impressive – and the crowds mingling with ease and without the worries of everyday living and working and sharing social time with their children, parents and grandchildren and sharing in the history of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
And appreciation for the executive committee and everybody who worked so diligently to make the Fleadh a success over the past two years. No reports of anti-social behavour or misconduct of any consequence and the traffic arrangements worked excellently. Well done all!
The lasting legacy for Fleadhanna 2024 agus 2025 is the giant Harp in Wexford Harbour constructed by locals under the guidance of Buí Bolg and it was from there the fireworks lit up the night sky on Sunday to mark the end of the Fleadh in Wexford and the beginning of plans for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 in Belfast city. Slán go dtí Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann ó Loch Garman agus tá sé fáilte in Beal Feirste.
WexfordLocal.com 