// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Week-long celebration of Irish music and culture to come to a close
The largest celebration of Irish music and culture in the world, the All-Ireland Fleadh, will come to a close on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of people have visited Belfast during the week, which has seen more than 200 events across the city, alongside competitions, concerts and street performances.
This year marked the first time Belfast had hosted the event and it is thought this could end up being the biggest Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann ever.
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has said the festival is expected to exceed £53m terms of an economic boost to the city.
Children playing tin whistles and violin during the Fleadh
Martina Connolly, CEO of Belfast One Business Improvement District said the overall visitor number was expected to pass one million by the end of Friday. Numbers have been recorded by footfall cameras at six locations.
"Since the beginning of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, our Belfast One footfall cameras have recorded 900,020 visitors in the city centre up to Thursday," she said.
Friday, she said, was the first of the three biggest days for the Fleadh as the main competitions kicked off and even more visitors arrived to soak up the atmosphere.
From buskers on the bodhran to musicians firing up their fiddles, the atmosphere and the celebration of music and culture has been joyful.
Lots of people have been making the most of the open sessions, with chances to showcase their hidden talents, or learn new skills.