- Tourism NI hosted a brunch event at The Bullitt Hotel to profile the region’s tourism offering during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast.
- The Department for the Economy provided £1 million in funding to Belfast City Council for the event, which has attracted over 700,000 visitors.
- Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Ellvena Graham OBE FIoD, Chair of Tourism NI, spoke at the event about the positive impact of major events.
- The economic impact from the Fleadh is now projected to exceed the initial £53 million estimate due to higher than expected visitor numbers.
- The funding and event are designed to position the region as a destination of choice, supporting a programme of over 1,000 volunteers.
Tourism NI revealed their projections for a substantial economic uplift for Belfast at an event as Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. Stormont’s Department for the Economy has allocated £1 million of funding to Belfast City Council to support the delivery of this year’s event, with the aim of positioning Belfast as a destination of choice. The festival, running until 9 August, marks the first time the event has been held in the city, with an estimated 700,000 attendees expected and a programme supporting over 1,000 volunteers.
Initial projections from the Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, suggested an economic impact of around £53 million, though recent indicators point to this figure being exceeded. Over 176,000 people were in Belfast city centre on Sunday for the opening ceremony, a 95 pc increase on the same day the previous year. Local hospitality businesses reported substantial increases in trading; one city centre bar owner described the level of business as “off the scale,” while a major hotel reported being fully booked and anticipating one of its best August performances on record.
The event is a key component of a broader strategy to showcase Ireland’s cultural and tourism assets. Tourism NI has also provided a 13 pc funding boost to the August Féile 2026, delivered by Féile an Phobail, which features over 600 events and complements the Fleadh programme. This coordinated approach aims to encourage visitors to extend their stay beyond Belfast and explore the wider region.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald shared: “I think we have seen greater than expected numbers coming to experience the Fleadh this year, so we are anticipating that it will likely be greater than that.”
Laura McCorry, Chief Executive of Tourism NI shared: “Most importantly everyone recognises the power of the Fleadh and that is these powerful global images going out around the world and really creating a fan base for the region.”
