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Disappointment has been expressed at no commitment by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to provide funding for the second Belfast Fleadh next summer.

More than 1.6 million visitors are estimated to have attended the first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to have taken place in the Northern Ireland capital.

It will return next August.

Asked during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday whether it had given funding, Mr Lyons said his officials engaged with partners to support and promote the event.

“My department did not provide any direct funding to the Fleadh, however my officials and several arms-length bodies of my department engaged with partners to support and promote the Fleadh and my department provided important support in terms of event space, with a number of DFC-owned public spaces used by businesses during the Fleadh,” he said, referring to Writers Square, Donegall Quay, Queen’s Quay and Bank Square.

“Looking forward to 2027, while I’m not currently in a position to advise on any projected investment for next year, I will ensure that my department and my ALBs continue to engage with the organisers of the 2027 Fleadh on ways to further enhance the festival for Belfast and Northern Ireland, as well as ensuring the longevity of its cultural legacy.”

Sinn Féin MLA Caral Ni Chuilin expressed disappointment at the lack of direct funding for the Fleadh, and urged the minister to commit to financial support for next year.

Mr Lyons responded saying he had not been asked for any funding for the Fleadh, and that funding from the Executive instead came from the Department for the Economy.

“I met with the organisers over a year before the event there wasn’t a request made,” he said.

“It was right and proper that the funding from the Executive came from the Department for the Economy, as the department that is responsible for large events, and that’s why it took place in that way.

“Of course I’ll always consider how we can help and how we can bring benefit to people across Northern Ireland.”

Mr Lyons also congratulated the organisers of the Fleadh for making the event inclusive and representative of Northern Ireland, which he said “stood in contrast to the West Belfast Festival”, accusing Féile an Phobail of “glorifying terrorism”.

He added: “It would be better for everybody in Northern Ireland if we had a little bit more Fleadh and a lot less Feile next year.”