Last weekend of the world Fleadh

Only in its second year, The World Fleadh finishes its week-long stint in Portlaoise (its inaugural year was in Kerry).

The purpose and design of this Irish festival is to showcase the best of Irish traditional and contemporary music in a custom-designed village setting. The organisers mean for it to be the Irish answer to festivals such as those held every year in Lorient (France), Cambridge (England) and Milwaukee (USA) wherein Irish performers are always featured. The World Fleadh is when it all comes home.

There’s an impressive line-up this year. The acts are:

Katie Melua , Deacon Blue , The Proclaimers , Duke Special , Hothouse Flowers , Jack L , Carlos Nunez , Salsa Celtica , Nizlopi , Frankie Gavin & Hibernian Rhapsody , The Duhks , Sandi Thom , Patrick Street , Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Orchestra & Special Guests , Cherish The Ladies , Flook , Alison Brown Quartet , At the Racket , Triona Marshall & Jon Pilatzke , Seamus Begley & Jim Murray , Tim Edey Band , Gráda , Slide , Cora & Breda Smyth , Bill Coleman , Gary Dunne , Matt Cunningham Band , Kilfenora Céilí Band , Johnny Reidy Céilí Band , Abbey Céilí Band , Swallow’s Tail Céilí Band , Davey Céilí Band , Camembert Quartet , Líadan , Íse , Rinceoil Fingal , Niamh Ní­ Charra , Jaune Toujours , Don Stiffe , Créde , The Wolfe Tones , Big Generator