Oh what a Fleadh vour - ceol agus prátaí in Belturbet

There was singing and dancing, music playing and food aplenty at the official launch of the Cavan County Fleadh in Belturbet last weekend.

Coinciding with the PJ Flood commemorative Cavan Piper Festival, the launch event at Belturbet Railway Station, in preparation for the county fleadh taking place this coming June bank holiday weekend (June 3-5), attracted a wide audience of both young and old.

Not only were attendees served up some of the finest Irish traditional music by a hugely talented ensemble of musicians, but there was plenty of boxty and bread to savour and a never ending supply of tea to wash it down.

The last ‘in-person’ county fleadh was in 2019 and was hugely successful for both the town and musicians who attended, with only online events held in years thereafter due to Covid restrictions.

Organisers in Belturbet are pulling out all the stops for this year's itinerary of events, with the indomitable High Stool Prophets set to officially open the traditional music festival with music on the town's Main Street.

That same evening there will be the usual sessions in pubs and street corners throughout the Erneside town, as well as a special concert with local school groups at Cístin Maggie Mór.

On the Saturday, competitions will begin in earnest, from 10am with venues still being confirmed.

The craic will be back in full flow at Cístin Maggie Mór, while the Copperplate Céilí Band will take to the main stage.

On Sunday there is a Fleadh Walk planned, with competitions still running, including the hotly contested dance competition.

This year's Cavan County Fleadh is doffing a cap to sustainable living, environmental impact, healthy eating and, as part of that theme, it will pay tribute to the humble potato.

A traditional afternoon on the town's Main Street with bread-making, boxty and potato bread, knitting and crochet, basket weaving and rope making.

The final day of the fleadh also marks the hugely popular busking competition, which attracts a wealth of talented musicians from far and wide.

Details of who will play the final concert are still being kept under-wraps for what promises to be a spectacular weekend of fun on the banks of the Erne.

Meanwhile, the closing date for all entries (music, song and dance) for the Cavan County Fleadh 2022 is 5pm on Friday, April 8.