The team behind this year’s historic Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Derry have announced that An Fhéile Phan Cheilteach (the Pan Celtic Festival) will be hosted in Derry in 2014 and 2015 at a Buíochas event held to thank Fleadh volunteers.

The festival will take place in the North of Ireland for the first time during Easter week 2014 and 2015 and attracts visitors to the host venue from all over Ireland as well as the Celtic nations of Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.  More than 10,000 people will participate in and attend a range of activities and events including the Festival Parade, harp, fiddle, piping, choral and traditional singing competitions.  There will also be themed nights from each of the nations as well as a Camogie Blitz.

Gearóid Ó hEára, Chairperson of the International Pan Celtic Festival Doire 2014/15 said:

“We have shown that Derry is a centre of excellence for music, culture and that this city is made to host events of this nature. The announcement that we will now host the Pan Celtic Festival north of the border for the first time is a tangible legacy of the Fleadh, this Festival brings together people from these islands and Brittany in a quite unique celebration of Celtic culture.  It is an honour for Derry to host this event and we are sure that the people of Derry will extend a fáilte mhór to all our visitors.  We are also confident that local people will embrace and participate fully in the Féile.

“Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin wants to thank the County Board of the GAA, Derry City Council, and the Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau for their support for Derry’s bid to host the Festival.”