An Irish traditional music body has said it turned down Londonderry's bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh next year because of the threat posed by dissident republicans.

Comhaltas said it was impossible to support the application because safety was paramount.

It followed a vote by members of its Ulster Council.

The organisers behind the UK City of Culture had been pushing to bring the fleadh north for the first time.

The Ulster Council said it was with "deep regret and long consideration" that it had turned down the bid.

Last week, a meeting of Derry Comhaltas delegates on Wednesday night was 13-1 in favour of the bid.

Some Comhaltas members, who initially opposed the move because of the UK link in Derry's City of Culture 2013 title, did not attend.

The bid then went to the Comhaltas Ulster Council to be ratified.

The fleadh attracts 25,000 people.

Comhaltas promotes traditional Irish music and culture around the world.

Two bombs exploded in the city on Friday, causing severe disruption.
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Very dissappointing news here - saying that congratulations to whoever wins it. This would have been the first time the Fleadh would have came north of the border.

Im annoyed for one with the disidents for obvious reasons. For example they planted bombs outside the tourist office and the Department of Health and Social Security offices in Derry last week. This gives you an idea of the ignorance and lack of intelligence these people have. Tourism is one of the best chances Derry has for creating jobs and prosperity at the minute, chances which are few and far between, the City of Culture is a chance for Derry to show itself off to a wide audience in 2013, yet some for one reason or the other a frew seem are intent on stopping this. Then just to show themselves up altogether they try to blow up the DHSS, no doubt the same men will be expecting their dole this week when they go complaining once more about the shortage of jobs in the city.

Then, I'm annoyed at Comhaltas, for in my opinion what can only be described as a cop out and an insult to the people in the North of this Island. The Catholic community in the North at the minute is overwhelmingly united against these dissidents. We are firmly of the belief that we do not support the disidents and we are determined to show them that they will not win (take for example the rallys held around NI last year and the united people against the death of Ronan Kerr). But the Comhaltas decision has gone against all this, they have let the disidents win. We have to go about our lives here. The people in Derry have worked hard to be awarded the city of culture in 2013, a feat which is even greater as it has been achieved constantly against intimidation from the disidents. The people of Derry prevail. Comhaltas has abandoned the people in Derry- do what you want, but dont endanger our safety.

For those of you not from Derry who have visited recently I have no doubt you will agree at how great the city has come on over the past decades. My sister married an English man in Derry this year, and I have never been more proud to show my city off to his family and friends, all of whom were very very impressed. People of Ireland, Derry is open for business, come and visit you will be made welcome. Don't let the intimidation win!!!

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 23/01/2012 09:37:02    1098178

Seems that all isnt as it seem in this story either....

link

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 23/01/2012 11:03:51    1098236

It wasn't just dissident republicans causing problems, wans't the local Unionist pliticians claiming it was a further step in their cultural/religious genocide or some such restrained language?
I guess Northen Ireland isn't quite ready for this.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 23/01/2012 11:12:39    1098245

Not even just the Unionists arock, the alot of the South Derry board members still seem to have an issue with the UK city of culture. Most thankfully are able to see the bigger picture in it all.

On a brighter note it was announced last week that Feile Na Nog is to return to Derry for the City of Culture year. It was a great success a few years back and no doubt will be again.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 23/01/2012 11:23:51    1098256

To tell you the truth I am glad it isn't in the north. I believe there would be a lot of tension if it was to move across the border. I believe that the PSNI would use a very heavy hand in policing it. I was down at the event the previous two years in Cavan. Individuals were allowed to drink on the streets and the guards used a common sense approach to the whole event. I can not imagine the PSNI adopting the same common sense approach. I imagine that they would be confiscating drink from those on the streets.
Also I believe there would be a small element of individuals who would not want an Irish music event in the north and would cause havoc.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 23/01/2012 11:51:29    1098293

These guys are not republicans but more than likely drug dealing, fuel laundering thugs. Nobody wants them so why don't they do us all a favour and jump of a cliff.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11697 - 23/01/2012 14:00:03    1098427

23/01/2012 09:37:02
Derry_ledd
County: Derry
Posts: 1777

Then, I'm annoyed at Comhaltas, for in my opinion what can only be described as a cop out and an insult to the people in the North of this Island. The Catholic community in the North at the minute is overwhelmingly united against these dissidents. We are firmly of the belief that we do not support the disidents and we are determined to show them that they will not win (take for example the rallys held around NI last year and the united people against the death of Ronan Kerr). But the Comhaltas decision has gone against all this, they have let the disidents win. We have to go about our lives here. The people in Derry have worked hard to be awarded the city of culture in 2013, a feat which is even greater as it has been achieved constantly against intimidation from the disidents. The people of Derry prevail. Comhaltas has abandoned the people in Derry- do what you want, but dont endanger our safety.

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I share your broader sentiments -

In terms of the Comhaltas decision although its contained in the early part of your post its worth highlighting that the Decision to award the 2013 AI fleadh will be made in September 2012. It is also worth noting that it was strongly rumoured that the decision to award Cavan the Fleadh for a third year in 2012 was done to "fill a gap" with the expectation that Derry would win the 2013 bid.

The decision not to not ratify the bid at this stage is a decision that has been made by the Ulster Council. so in terms of Chomaltas turning its back on the North the decision would have been one made by some counties within the North.

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 23/01/2012 14:42:16    1098480

Thanks Ruanua, agree I may have been jumping the gun on my condemnation of the whole Comhaltas, and I dont think the bid is dead yet, apparently they have to Wednesday to appeal, which it seems there may be grounds for. I get the impression there is a split amongst Ulster Comhaltas and some are conspiring to kill the bid.

With regards the September deadline, my understanding was that Derry had asked for this to be brought forward due to the ongoing arrangements for the whole city of culture year.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 23/01/2012 15:07:37    1098523

Seems that the Ulster people themselves that vetoed Derry as they don't like the UK City of Culture thing which is fair enough. Those involved in the Derry UK City of Culture scheme should realise that some Irish Gaels oppose this so they should stop whinging.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9829 - 23/01/2012 15:47:24    1098605

23/01/2012 15:47:24
Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 4701

1098605 Seems that the Ulster people themselves that vetoed Derry as they don't like the UK City of Culture thing which is fair enough. Those involved in the Derry UK City of Culture scheme should realise that some Irish Gaels oppose this so they should stop whinging.
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so the options are

1) Have Derry as UK city of Culture

2) Have Derry as a UK city of culture with one of the key events being a traditional Irish music festival that attracts circa 100,000 vistitors from the 32 counties of Ireland in addition to Irish Disapora from overseas to come together on the Island of Ireland to share in week long event that highlights Irish culture and tradition


So you clearly agree with option 1) - seems logical - What will they replace the event with ? Its a year too late to mark the Royal wedding

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 23/01/2012 15:58:43    1098622

Dissadent republicans are s**mbags who live off benefits and bully all in their local areas. They would make the heroes of 1916 turn in their graves.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 23/01/2012 16:08:57    1098640

Ulsterman, take your bigotted head of you for one minute and then I'll listen to why you think fleadh cheoil na heireann shouldn't come to Derry in a year in which the spotlight will be on the city.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 23/01/2012 16:17:47    1098655

Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 4708

1098605 Seems that the Ulster people themselves that vetoed Derry as they don't like the UK City of Culture thing which is fair enough. Those involved in the Derry UK City of Culture scheme should realise that some Irish Gaels oppose this so they should stop whinging.

_________


That post just seems to me to be part of the revisionist, anti-Gael media and movement in the North East of our country and it needs to be CONDEMNED!

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 23/01/2012 17:04:07    1098695