The Fallon family, Shurock, Castletown Geoghegan, have donated a trophy for the 12-15 Céilí Band competition at the Westmeath Fleadh Cheoil, ‘The Davy Joe Fallon Perpetual Cup’. Davy Joe is a founding officers and an honorary president of Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas.

Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí comes back to Mullingar

Brian O'Loughlin

Published: Fri 8 May 2026, 4:14 PM

Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí returns to Mullingar for the first time in eight years with more than 500 competitors and their families set to descend on the town - the birthplace of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - this weekend.

The event, from Friday to Sunday, May 8-10, promises a comprehensive schedule of competitions, seisiúin and social events that will have the county town bustling with music and excitement.

It starts at 7pm on Friday, with the launch of Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí 2026 on the Market Square. The festival will be officially opened by Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, president of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and top young musicians from local branches will perform on the square.

Later that evening (9pm), traditional music and dance enthusiasts will have the well-appointed Comhaltas regional HQ, Áras an Mhuilinn, packed to the rafters for a céilí led by the popular Rise the Dust Céilí Band.

Elsewhere in Westmeath on Friday evening, at Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate, the county marching band competition will take place (6pm).

The core of the fleadh – the competitions – centre on Holy Family Primary School on the Ardmore Road (N91 AK6W), as the hundreds of competitors look to book their places in the Leinster Fleadh.

Dancing competitions, as well as the U10 music contests, are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, from 10am and the U10 musicians from 2pm. Registration opens at 9.15am and competitors are advised to arrive at the school early on both days.

The organising committee, led by Mullingar CCÉ branch chairman Noel Battle, has organised excellent facilities at the school to ensure the smooth running of all competitions. Food trucks will be stationed onsite across the two days and an overflow car park has been made available at the National Science Park on the Dublin Road.

For those looking to soak up the atmosphere outside the competition halls at Holy Family, an outdoor Seisiún Ceoil has been scheduled for 4pm on Saturday on the Market Square, and others are expected to take place at other venues around town later that evening.

On Sunday, attention turns to the music, singing, comhrá and associated competitions for all grades from U12 upwards, performances beginning at 10am and finishing late on Sunday. Among the silverware up for grabs is a new trophy for the U12 grúpaí ceoil competition, the Noel Battle Perpetual Trophy.

There is also a new cup for the 12-15 céilí band competition, the Davy Joe Fallon Perpetual Cup (Davy Joe is honorary president of Castletown Geoghegan Comhaltas).

A spiritual and cultural highlight of the weekend will be the Fleadh Mass as Gaeilge in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar on Sunday at 11am.

The realisation of Fleadh Cheoil na hIarmhí 2026 is the result of immense community collaboration and meticulous planning between CCÉ’s Mullingar branch and the county executive.

Financial backing has been provided by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann HQ, the Dept of Culture, Communications and Sport, Westmeath County Council, North Midlands Credit Union, and local businesses.