Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to kick off in Belfast

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is kicking off in Belfast for the very first time on Sunday.

The opening event will take place from midday.

The eight-day festival, running until 9 August, is the world's largest celebration of Irish music and culture.

There are more than 200 events planned across the city during the festival, with live music sessions, storytelling, interactive workshops, dance classes and family fun days featuring in the programme.

While the opening ceremony kicks off 12:00 BST, the event will continue into the evening with performances by Goitse, Blackwater Céilí Band and Sharon Shannon.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, described the festival as a "major moment" for Belfast.

The Fleadh's main outdoor stage, the Gig Rig, is located outside Belfast City Hall. the stage will offer free live performances every day.

As well as core events the city centre the fringe programme will feature more than 90 community events with family-focused gatherings taking place in neighbourhood venues across Belfast.

While events are happening all week all over the city, the competitions do not start until Friday.

Pádraig Ó Duinnín project lead on behalf of Belfast City Council for the Gig Rig at City Hall, said he was "excited to get started".

"I think it is going to be a fantastic week, it is like nothing we have ever seen before," he said.

"If you are into music, if you are not into music, if you play an instrument or sing, or if you don't, there is something here for everybody.

"You won't be able to move in the city without tripping over musicians."

The biggest change for residents and visitors will be the creation of a large, pedestrianised zone in Belfast city centre over the course of the festival.

This is to ensure safe pedestrian movement and allow for performances and activities to take place.

The city centre zone will be pedestrianised with road closures from 5:00 BST on Sunday and the yellow shaded area in the map above will be closed to traffic.

The roads around the city hall in blue will be open some of the time, closing on a phased basis as necessary.

Main routes across the wider city will remain open, but motorists are being asked to check routes in advance.

Michelle Downey from the Downey Group said businesses have been gearing up and working to get ready for the big week.

"Fleadh fever has arrived in Belfast," she said.

"We are planning for St Patrick's Day every day for eight days, so if that happens it will be fantastic."

John Lavery of Fish City said you "could feel the excitement in the air" and that there was a "vibrancy" in Belfast.

He said he had put "substantial" investment in place, and had spent "tens of thousands of pounds getting ready for this".

"It needs to be successful," he added.

Emily Sparling, of Peter Keegan's Bar in Belfast, said it had made a £60,000 investment and had 25 extra staff "across the board" for the event.

"Preparations have been good, we have just loaded around 100 kegs of Guinness in, so we are ready," she said.

"We are expecting a very big week, everyone is buzzing, can't wait."

Dominic Lavery from Lavery's Bar said that planning for the event had taken "five or six months".

"There are going to be hundreds and hundreds of people through here through the fleadh, we are buzzing to be here," he said.

"From Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday hopefully it will feel like your normal Saturday night, and from then on it's going to be like Paddy's day on steroids for the duration."

Belfast City Council and Translink are urging people to plan ahead and leave extra time for journeys to and from the city.

Road closures and diversions came into effect at 05:00 BST on Sunday and will remain in place until 07:00 BST on Monday 10 August.

No parking or waiting restrictions will make driving through the city centre and its vicinity difficult, even for drop-offs.

A full list of road closures can be seen on the council's website.

Anyone travelling from outside the city is encouraged to use public transport.

Sean McGreevy, Belfast Area Manager, said this is one of the biggest events Translink has been involved with in recent years.

"Last year we had The Open golf in Portrush, which was a massive operation. The complication is this is city-wide, it is week-long and it is in a major city, which has its own considerations and other networks to run."

People are being urged to plan their journeys carefully, using Translink's website.

A free shuttle bus will operate from three Fleadh park and ride sites at the Eikon Exhibition Centre at Sprucefield, Giant's Park and Belfast Harbour Estate.

All Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus and train services will operate throughout the event.

There will be temporary alterations to some bus stops and pick-up points around City Hall.

Additional late-night bus and rail services will be in place on Sunday, and again from Thursday to Sunday.

Translink is running special day return bus services from towns and cities across Northern Ireland. These are available to pre-book online.

Taxi services will continue to operate throughout the festival.

Dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations will be located around the edge of the pedestrianised event zone, at Corporation Street, Little Donegall Street, junction of North Street and Royal Avenue, King Street, Adelaide Street and Chichester Street.

A fully accessible city-centre loop shuttle service will operate throughout the festival for people with accessibility requirements or those carrying heavy instruments.

Visitors travelling from the Republic of Ireland can access Belfast via hourly cross-border coach services from Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport, or hourly train services between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Grand Central Station.

The Irish language will form an important part of the visitor experience at the Fleadh.

A dedicated Irish Language Hub at The Mac will include free taster classes, arts and crafts workshops, circus skills, family entertainment and a dedicated family room throughout the week.

Bilingual directional and wayfinding signage, visitor information, festival dressing and other temporary infrastructure will help people navigate venues, attractions and event facilities.

"Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann presents a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Irish language as a living, vibrant part of our city and our shared cultural heritage," the lord mayor said.

Alongside activity at the Irish Language Hub, the wider festival programme will also include events celebrating Ulster-Scots language and traditions, including an Ulster Bands Showcase.

Details of all Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann events can be found here.