All-Ireland Fleadh: Belfast eyes financial boost from Irish music event

The world's largest festival of Irish music and dance has not even been to Belfast yet and it has already signed up to return. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the All-Ireland Fleadh - in Northern Ireland's capital in the summer. It was announced earlier in March that it will return in 2027. The news has been welcomed as a boost for the arts, culture and the economy which will draw visitors to the city two years running. Arthur McAnerney runs City Picnic in Belfast city centre and said his business would be "ramping up stock, staff, on-street seats, decorating and hopefully get some music in, so it'll be all go". "It's the biggest event probably we've had in our history," he said. He attended the Fleadh when he was younger and described it as a "great tourist attraction" and the "streets are just buzzing for the whole session". "It's a great festival atmosphere and it's great for Belfast to get it. I'm absolutely delighted, actually, that Belfast has got it. "It's an incredible thing for Belfast and it's great to see that we're going to get a second go at it too and hopefully lots more to come after that. "It's unbelievable watching