In 2026, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the world’s largest annual celebration of traditional Irish music, song, and dance – comes to Belfast.
As part of the Fleadh Fringe Festival in Lisburn and Castlereagh, we have organised a programme of events on local history, heritage, and culture. Our programme runs from 31 July through 5 September, and includes three talks, a spotlight exhibition, and craft activities.
Please note that the three talks require booking via TicketSource, and the venue for two of the talks is in Castlereagh South.
Talk: Friday 31 July @ 7pm – ‘Con O’Neill: Last Gaelic Lord of Upper Clannaboy’, by Roy Greer
This talk traces the origins of the O’Neill clan, following their turbulent journey into Antrim and Down, before charting the downfall of Con O’Neill and the consequential arrival of the Scots from Ayrshire — a turning point that reshaped the cultural landscape of Ulster.
Booking is essential.
Note that the venue for this event is Lough Moss Leisure Centre, Carryduff.
Talk: Saturday 1 August 2026 @ 2pm – ‘What’s in a name? Exploring the stories behind our local place-names’, by Dr Frances Kane
Drawing on examples from across Lisburn and Castlereagh, this talk will explore the stories hidden in local place-names and show how they can help us better understand the places we know today. Along the way, we’ll encounter lost landscapes, forgotten histories and some surprising meanings that have been hiding in plain sight for centuries.
Booking is essential.
Note that the venue for this event is the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum.
Talk: Saturday 1 August 2026 @ 7pm – ‘Irish place-names: what can we learn from them?’, by Dr Paul Tempan
This talk will cover a wide variety of place-names, ancient and modern, and discuss how place-names are not only of interest in their own right, but can also provide valuable evidence to support other disciplines such as history, archaeology and linguistics.
Booking is essential.
Note that the venue for this event is the Ivanhoe Hotel, Carryduff.
Spotlight exhibition: ‘Irish Dancing’, Saturday 1 August – Saturday 5 September 2026 @ 9:30am – 5pm
This pop-up display features Irish dancing costume from across the borough, and a screening of the fantastic documentary: ‘Steps of Freedom’.
Booking is not required.
Note that the venue for this event is the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum.
Drop-in activities: ‘Celtic Crafts’, Monday 3 August – Friday 7 August 2026 @ 9:30am – 4:30pm
Get creative with our Celtic Craft Activities which change daily and include Celtic Knot Bookmarks, Paper Doll Irish Dancers, Paper Mosaic Instruments, Accordion Paper Fans, and Paper Cup Harps.
Booking is not required.
Note that the venue for this event is the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum.