www.TheWorldFleadh.com

The World Fleadh is recognised as Ireland’s biggest Irish traditional & Celtic music festival. The events’s main attraction is its large scale marquee concerts and theatre performances featuring the best Irish traditional, contemporary & celtic music performers in the world. In addition, it plays host to a number of Ireland’s top céilí bands, a scheduled session trail, world title competitions in Irish traditional music, song & dance and master classes & demonstrations in various performance styles. To add to the aforementioned, the festival organisers have planned an incomparable range of family street and fringe activities to occur during The World Fleadh 2008 in Portlaoise.

The World Fleadh was first staged in Kerry during August 2006 and as a result of the potential the event demonstrated during its second year, while staged in Portlaoise, a new limited company has been set up in Portlaoise which through its Laois directors recently acquired the rights to stage The World Fleadh festival in Portlaoise into the future. Galway man Eric Cunningham was cordially invited by the local directors of the new company, together with the local committee, to act Festival Director again and to become director of the new Laois based company.

Speaking about the announcement, Festival Director Eric Cunningham said of the new departure:

“The effort which has been put into securing this event for Portlaoise is a testament to the deep rooted belief amongst many that The World Fleadh, if given the necessary succour and impetus, and stability in terms of location will overtime become an international festival of serious dimensions and a hallmark of Portlaoise’s growing cultural and business landscape. I am very pleased to have been invited to play a part in this process.”

County Manager Peter Carey of Laois County Council has welcomed the decision and stated:

“The World Fleadh delivered an excellent profile and significant media coverage for Portlaoise. Hopefully all parties will produce and even more impressive festival this year.”

Several other members of the local community have joined festival sub committees in an effort to support the event due to the evident potential the festival showed in Portlaoise during August 2007.

Although it was unfortunate that the 2007 event occurred during some of the years worst weather conditions, which forced the nearby Tullamore Show and Stradbally Steam Rally to be cancelled, The World Fleadh had demonstrated during its time in Portlaoise that such an event could play a very positive role within the community if circumstances were more favourable and certain facets of the festival structure were re assessed.

The World Fleadh 2008 will take place in Portlaoise over the August bank holiday weekend between July 31st and August 4th. A national launch will be held on April 28th where acts and schedules will be announced.

Acts confirmed to date include:

Shane Mc Gowan-Damien Dempsey-Mundy-Sharon Shannon-Tommy Fleming-Hothouse Flowers-The Wolfe Tones-Dessie O’ Halloran-Jack L-Woman of Ireland- Lúnasa-Seamus Begley & Jim Murray-Sean Keane-Máirtín O Connor Band-Gráda-Kilfenora Céili Band-Matt Cunningham Band-Johnny Reidy Céilí Band- Swallows Tail Céilí Band-Micheál Sexton & Pat Walsh and more

For further information info@theworldfleadh.com and www.TheWorldFleadh.com