Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited Ulster University’s Belfast campus yesterday as part of his visit to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026.
The Taoiseach was welcomed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew and Provost Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan and heard more about the University’s role as a core host venue and educational partner for the Fleadh.
Throughout the week, the campus has hosted Scoil Éigse, the flagship educational programme of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, welcoming around 800 young musicians and learners each day for traditional music, song, dance and language tuition.
The Taoiseach also heard about the wider contribution the University is making to the festival, including hosting the central Fleadh Medical Centre, operated by St John Ambulance Northern Ireland to support the health response across Belfast.
We also had the opportunity to update him on progress on the planned Student and Teaching Centre at our Derry~Londonderry Campus, which is supported by significant investment from the Government of Ireland through the Shared Island Fund.
Following his visit to the University, the Taoiseach travelled to nearby St Anne’s Cathedral, where he joined the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, to watch Scoil Éigse students and tutors come together for Seisiún Mór na hÉigse – the Grand Finale marking the culmination of their week of learning on campus.
The visit came ahead of another major weekend of activity at the University, with the Belfast campus hosting All-Ireland competitions from 7–9 August across music, song, dance and language.
Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Provost of Ulster University, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the University during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
“From welcoming hundreds of young musicians through Scoil Éigse to hosting the All-Ireland competitions and supporting the wider health response to the festival, the University is playing an important role in helping to deliver Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast.
“The Scoil Éigse Grand Finale at St Anne’s Cathedral was a fitting culmination to a week that has seen hundreds of young musicians learning, performing and sharing their passion for traditional music on our campus.”
