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Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the biggest celebration of Irish culture anywhere in the world, will arrive in Derry~Londonderry from 11 -- 18 August. Organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, this will be an event of truly historical significance with the Fleadh taking place north of the border for the first time since its foundation in 1951.

Over the course of a week 300,000 people and 20,000 musicians will descend on the city to compete in the Olympics of traditional music. The Fleadh will feature over 100 events, exclusive world class collaborations and a dream team of performers including The Poet and the Piper (Seamus Heaney and Liam O'Flynn), Cara Dillon and the Orchestra of Ireland, Dervish, Flook, Lorcán Mac Mathuna and dance spectacular Take the Floor featuring Beoga. Some of the richest traditional musical regions in the world will be celebrated with a series of concert events that will attract a who's who of the traditional world.

The Transatlantic Fleadh is a spectacular one-off event and a spin-off of the internationally renowned Transatlantic Sessions staged annually as part of Celtic Connections and will be a celebration of the strong traditional musical connections between Ireland, Scotland and North America. Artists performing as part of the Transatlantic Fleadh include Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski (O Brother Where Art Thou), Grammy award winner Tim O'Brien, Arty McGlynn, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Declan O'Rourke, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Jarlath Henderson, Donald Shaw (Capercaillie), John Doyle (Solas), Danny Thompson and James Mackintosh.

Fleadh Cheoil 2013 will also be the first completely digital Fleadh with a powerful new website streaming Fleadh Live. Fleadh Live will see the world's best traditional Irish musicians perform in a series of shows broadcast live and direct from the Fleadh Cheoil in Derry~Londonderry from Wednesday 14 -- Sunday 18 August daily on TG4, tg4.tv and FleadhCheoil.ie

Fleadh Live will include performances from some of the biggest names on the international world/folk music scene, interspersed with impromptu music lifted off the street by visiting musicians and winners of Fleadh competitions.

Each Fleadh Live show will be hosted by top TG4 television personality, Síle Ní Bhraonáin, and traditional Irish music legend, Gino Lupari, and will take the format of iconic live music programmes such as Later... with Jools Holland and Top of the Pops, with multiple performance spaces and energetic live audiences.

Fleadh Live will be broadcast from 8 -- 11pm every night from August 14 -- 18 live on TG4, tg4.tv and FleadhCheoil.ie There will also be a series of special online lunchtime concerts from 1--2pm daily from August 14 -- 16 live on tg4.tv and FleadhCheoil.ie

Fleadh Cheoil 2013 is funded by the Culture Company, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Department of Social Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, Arts Council NI, Arts Council of Ireland, Culture Ireland and Foras Gaeilge. The principle sponsors for Fleadh Cheoil 2013 are the Garvan O'Doherty Group and Diageo Ireland.

For more information email info@fleadhcheoil.ie, visit www.fleadhcheoil.ie or call the Fleadh Office on +4428 71373 573.

View the full Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann programme below.