Mayo County Council has thrown its weight behind a call to bring Fleadh Cheoil na nEireann back to Ballina in the next few years.
Fine Gael Cllr John O'Hara had a notice of motion at the September meeting of the Ballina Municipal District which read "Calling on Ballina Municipal District to request Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann to host the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Ballina in the near future."
Cllr O'Hora's motion got full support from all the elected members of the municipal district at the meeting which was held virtually on Wednesday morning.
He said that local fund-raising towards this goal had got underway some time ago and that the initiative needed to be supported by the council. Independent councillor, Seamus Weir, supporting the motion, said it would be great to see live music like the Fleadh back after the past year and half of Covid-19 restrictions, while Independent councillor Mark Duffy commented that the town had a great tradition of music and culture which the town had shown recently, with its hosting of the Other Voices festival.
Fianna Fáil councillor Annie May Reape said that the previous time that Ballina held the Fleadh, it had been a great success and had been very well regarded and been a great publicity boost for the town.
Manager for the Municipal District for Mayo County Council, Declan Turnbull, said that a meeting between the local elected representatives and local Comhaltas members would take place and that the council will do anything it can to help with the process.
