'Let's celebrate Irish culture': Fleadh Cheoil event planned for this Kildare town
By Ciarán Mather · Leinster Leader · 27 July 2026
A local councillor said that he hopes that the event will become an annual tradition
By Ciarán Mather Published 27th Jul 2026, 15:30 BST 'Let's celebrate Irish culture': Fleadh Cheoil event planned for this Kildare town | FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY A local councillor said that he hopes that the event will become an annual tradition Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 is just around the corner, and one Kildare county councillor has revealed that he is helping to bring a Fleadh Cheoil event to Newbridge.
During a recent guest appearance on KFM, Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell, who also spread the announcement on his social media pages, said that the event, which is free of charge, will be held in Newbridge Town Hall next week.
According to Cllr McDonnell, the event will feature a guest in the form of 10-year-old trad musician Johnny Joyce, who is arguably best known for entertaining views on the 2024 iteration of The Late Late Toy Show.
In addition, he has released an open call for volunteers who are able to play traditional Irish musical instruments.
Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell | PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT: KILDARECOCO.IE Furthermore, Cllr McDonnell told the radio station that he attends the annual Fleadh Cheoil every year, and expressed hope that the Newbridge event will become an annual tradition in the near future.
He also asserted that anyone who is ‘available in the local area is welcome to attend’ the Newbridge event.
The Newbridge Fleadh Cheoil will take place this coming Bank Holiday Monday (August 3, 2026).
It will begin at 11am and is expected to conclude sometime in the evening between 6pm and 8pm.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 will take place in Belfast from Sunday, August 2, 2026 to Sunday, August 9, 2026.
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Reporting by Ciarán Mather for Leinster Leader, funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Republished by News Room under the scheme’s reuse permission.
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