Campaign to bring All-Ireland Fleadh back to Derry "well underway"

The campaign to bring Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann back to Derry is "well underway," Sinn Féin's Gearóid Ó hEára has said 

Over 400,000 people visited the city when it hosted the event during its City of Culture year in 2103, making it the most successful ever staged.

Mr Ó hEára, who attended the award ceremony in Cashel on Saturday to see Comhaltas receiving the prestigious European Citizen's Award (pictured above), said he was confident the Fleadh would return to Derry for more than one year. 

CampHe said: "Comhaltas was a well-deserved winner of this award for its promotion of reconciliation tolerance and respect for other cultures. 

"This was particularly evident in Derry during ?Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2013 when loyalist bands got involved in the celebrations. 

"At the awards ceremony we lobbied the Comhaltas leadership on bringing the Fleadh back to Derry in the next few years. 

"There is no doubt that 2013 was the best Fleadh ever so we are extremely positive about bringing the Fleadh back to Derry and we will be looking to host it for more than one year." 

Mr Ó hEára concluded: "I, together with Martina Anderson and other representatives from the city will continue to campaign to ensure the Fleadh comes back to Derry as soon as possible."