19 - 25 May, 2025, Ballycastle
Antrim Fleadh
Ballycastle Comhaltas
About The Event
Ballycastle Comhaltas will be hosting the Antrim Fleadh for a week long series of events. This is a celebration of rich heritage and culture of Irish Music, Language and Dance in the heart of a thriving town in North Antrim.
Where
Venues all over Ballycastle, With Competitions held – 24/25 May St. Patrick’s & St. Brigid’s PS.
When
19-25 May 2025
Have A Look At The
Event Schedule
Dé Luain 19ú Bealtaine Monday 19th May | ||
Time | Location | Community Fleadh Event |
19.00 | Ramoan Parish Centre | Wellbeing Dance Workshop Sean Nós Dance Workshop with Mary Mc Guiggan Come along and enjoy learning some steps, all abilities welcome. Sponsored by APEX. |
19.30 | Cushendall GAC | Gaeil Ruairí Óg agus Gaeil na Glinntí Irish Language community event organised by Cushendall Irish Language Community Group |
19.00 – 2100
21.00 – late | House of McDonnell
House of McDonnell | Launch of Leslie Craig’s Book of his own Compositions
County session for opening of the fleadh hosted by Baile An Chaistil CCE |
Dé Máirt 20ú Bealtaine Tuesday 20th May 2025 | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Event |
11.00 | Community Hub/Cafe | Glor Na Maoile Cupán Cainte – A conversational Irish Group for adults organised by Ballycastle Irish group Glor Na Maoile |
19.30 | Ramoan Presbyterian Church Hall | Looking Forward to looking Back Discussion & performance exploring Irish/scottish tunes composed by local musicians such as Frank McCollam, The Shadow, James Butler Hosted by Johnny Murphy and Micheal Ó Seanáin |
21.00 | Tessies (Bakewells Bar Seafront) | Michael Sands, Johnny Murphy, Ciaran O’Kane |
Dé Céadaoin 21ú Bealtaine/ Wednesday 21st May | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Events |
11.00 | Sheskburn (Causeway Coast & Glens office) | Glens & Dalriada u3a…A local charity providing educational, sporting and leisure pursuits for people who no longer work full time. Affiliated to AIUTA (L’Association internationale des Université du Troisiéme Âge) A Taster Session for Tin-whistle for adults |
19.30 -2100 | The Yarn | Links to the past: Celebrating women and the piping tradition. Historial talk on the links between Carnlough female piper Netta Johnston (1878-1952) and the Boyd family of Ballycastle. Hosted by Conor Mallon with special guests Jane Walls, Paddy O’Hare and Marie Kinney. Sponsored by APEX. |
21.00 – late | Boyd Arms (the Diamond) | Piping session: Conor Mallon, Paddy O Hare, Marie Kinney |
21.00 – late | The Harbour Bar (seafront) | Session with Gerry O Donnell, Gerry Mc Gouran and Paul McAuley |
Déardaoin 22ú Bealtaine/ Thursday 22nd May | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Events |
13.00 – 15.00 | Cross and Passion and Ballycastle High School | Music department organise and host a Snare drum Workshop (20) Bodhrán Workshop (20 places) A Celebration of two drumming traditions of North Antrim focusing on building an understanding of our shared cultures with children from all communities. |
17.00- 19.00 | The Anzac Bar | County Antrim Youth Officer Katie Ní Sheanáin and Friends organise and host a youth session open to all young musicians throughout the county and beyond. |
19.00 – 21.00 | Corrymeela International Centre for peace & reconciliation (The Croí) | Singing Workshop with Mairead Walls Exploring local Traditional songs |
21.00 – late | O’Connors Bar | Session with Glens Comhaltas |
21.30 – late | The House of McDonnell | Mairead and Damien Walls, Micheál Ó Seanáin |
Dé hAoine 23ú Bealtaine/ Friday 23rd May | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Event |
12.00 | Ballycastle Golf Club | Golf Tournament organised by McQuillans GAC… Tune in one (of the best golf clubs in Ireland) Performance by Baile An Chaistil CCE at 16.00 |
13.00 – 15.00 | Cross and Passion College & Ballycastle High School | Oriental Dance Niamh Mc Comish A Shared Ireland celebrating diversity. Sponsored by APEX. |
15.00 – 17.00 | Tessies’s | Session Micheál O Seanáin, Aoife Mullan, Conor Mallon |
17.00 – 19.00 | The Diamond Bar | Peadar Connor, Katie Ní Sheanáin, Sean Turner |
19.00 – 21.00 | Ramoan Presbyterian Hall | Cushendun & District Development Association organises Set Dancing Class and Ceilí With Eamon Walls & Ronan Eastwood Music by Jamie Troy, Sonny Cahill, Andrea Brennan, Giulio Bonomi & Katie Ní Sheanáin. Sponsored by Ballycastle Credit Union. |
21.00 – Late | House of McDonnell | Session with Jerry O’Donnell and Friends |
21.00 – Late | The Boyd Arms | James Carson, Paddy O Hare, Darren Culliny |
Dé Sathairn 24ú Bealtaine/ Saturday 24th May Co Antrim Fleadh | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Event |
10.00 | McQuillans GAC Grounds | McQuillans GAC organize and host a Under 12 Camogie match |
10.00 | Scoil Naomh Pádraig agus Naomh Bríd | Music, singing and Language Competitions |
10.00 | Scoil Naomh Pádraig agus Naomh Bríd | Pop up Gaeltacht organised by local Irish Group Glor Na Maoile |
10.00 | Ballycastle Seafront | Causeway Coast and Glens Market A flagship artisan market organised by Naturally North Coast & Glens on the beautiful Ballycastle Seafront. This is an excellent showcase of local food, culture, heritage, and traditions, and it is an ideal destination for anyone looking for an authentic experience. |
15.00 – 17.00 | The Anzac Bar | Johnny Murphy, Sonny Cahill, Tony Graham |
17.00 – 19.00 | The Diamond Bar | Lachlann McKibbon, Katie Ní Sheanáin, Shane McTaggart |
19.00 – 21.00 | The House of McDonnell | Martin Meehan, Sorcha Meehan, Conor Mallon |
21.00 – late | The Boyd Arms | The Glenavy Gang |
21.00 – 23.00 | The Tannery | Giulio Bonomi, Sonny Cahill, Jamie Troy |
23.00 – late | Halo | Trisco with DJ Lachlan |
Dé Domhnaigh 25ú Bealtaine / Sunday 25th May Antrim Fleadh | ||
10.00 | Naomh Pádraig agus Naomh Bríd | Fleadh Mass with Pat Black and Lir Dancers |
10.00 | Marconi Run | Ballycastle Running Club organises a 5 mile run for the local and surrounding runners. |
10.00 | Ballycastle Seafront | Causeway Coast and Glens Market A flagship artisan market organised by Naturally North Coast & Glens on the beautiful Ballycastle Seafront. This is an excellent showcase of local food, culture, heritage, and traditions, and it is an ideal destination for anyone looking for an authentic experience. |
13.00 – 15.00 | House of McDonnell | The Glenavy Gang. |
13.00 | Scoil Naomh Pádraig agus Naomh Bríd | Dance Competitions Céilí Band and Grúpaí Cheoil Competitions |
14.00 – 16.00 | The Harbour Bar | Katie Ní Sheanáin, James Carson, Peadar Connor |
16.00 – 20.00 | Gig Rig at Sea front | Featuring local CCÉ groups 16.00 – Portglenone CCE 16.30 – Cushendall CCE 17.00 – Rasharkin CCE 17.30 – Dunloy CCE 18.00 – Glengormley CCE 18.30 – Loch beg CCE 19.00 – Northern Counties Fiddle Society 19:30 – Baile An Chaistil CCE |
All sessions are open to musicians so come along and join in or find a spot throughout the town and start a session. | ||
Have A Look At The
Session Trail
Dé Luain 19ú Bealtaine Monday 19th May | ||
Time | Location | Community Fleadh Event |
21.00 – late | House of McDonnell | County session for opening of the fleadh hosted by Baile An Chaistil CCE |
Dé Máirt 20ú Bealtaine Tuesday 20th May 2025 | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Event |
21.00 | Tessies (Bakewells Bar Seafront) | Michael Sands, Johnny Murphy, Ciaran O’Kane |
Dé Céadaoin 21ú Bealtaine/ Wednesday 21st May | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Events |
21.00 – late | Boyd Arms (the Diamond) | Piping session: Conor Mallon, Paddy O Hare, Marie Kinney |
21.00 – late | The Harbour Bar (seafront) | Session with Gerry O Donnell, Gerry Mc Gouran and Paul McAuley |
Déardaoin 22ú Bealtaine/ Thursday 22nd May | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Events |
17.00- 19.00 | The Anzac Bar | County Antrim Youth Officer Katie Ní Sheanáin and Friends organise and host a youth session open to all young musicians throughout the county and beyond. |
19.00 – 21.00 | Corrymeela International Centre for peace & reconciliation (The Cree) | Singing Workshop with Mairead Walls Exploring local Traditional songs |
21.00 – late | O’Connors Bar | Session with Glens Comhaltas |
21.30 – late | The House of McDonnell | Mairead and Damien Walls, Micheál Ó Seanáin |
Dé hAoine 23ú Bealtaine/ Friday 23rd May | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Event |
15.00 – 17.00 | Tessies’s | Session Micheál O Seanáin, Aoife Mullan, Conor Mallon |
17.00 – 19.00 | The Diamond Bar | Peadar Connor, Katie Ní Sheanáin, Sean Turner |
21.00 – Late | House of McDonnell | Session with Jerry O’Donnell and Friends |
21.00 – Late | The Boyd Arms | James Carson, Paddy O Hare, Darren Culliny |
Dé Sathairn 24ú Bealtaine/ Saturday 24th May Co Antrim Fleadh | ||
Time | Venue | Community Fleadh Event |
15.00 – 17.00 | The Anzac Bar | Johnny Murphy, Sonny Cahill, Tony Graham |
17.00 – 19.00 | The Diamond Bar | Lachlann McKibbon, Katie Ní Sheanáin, Shane McTaggart |
19.00 – 21.00 | The House of McDonnell | Martin Meehan, Sorcha Meehan, Conor Mallon |
21.00 – late | The Boyd Arms | The Glenavy Gang |
21.00 – 23.00 | The Tannery | Giulio Bonomi, Sonny Cahill, Jamie Troy |
Dé Domhnaigh 25ú Bealtaine / Sunday 25th May Antrim Fleadh | ||
13.00 – 15.00 | House of McDonnell | The Glenavy Gang. |
14.00 – 16.00 | The Harbour Bar | Katie Ní Sheanáin, James Carson, Peadar Connor |
All sessions are open to musicians so come along and join in or find a spot throughout the town and start a session. | ||
Competition Information
St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Primary School
19 Moyle Rd, Ballycastle BT54 6AN, United Kingdom
All events are spread across the town. The competition venue address can be found above or via the interactive map.
All competitors, please find the competition timetable below. This is for the various age groups and instruments.
Our Principal Funders
