// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
An unrecognisable city - the impact of Belfast's first Fleadh
Footfall numbers exceeded even the most optimistic expectations with 1.6m visits clocked up during the eight-day festival
For those involved in Belfast's Irish traditional music scene through the 1970s, '80s and '90s, the idea of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann [All-Ireland Fleadh] one day coming to the city was one too ridiculous to even contemplate.
Veteran folk singer Neil Martin said nobody during the Troubles would have "thought it would have been safe".
"It could have been targeted in a way that could have endangered life, you could have been sure of that," he said.
The 2026 festival exceeded expectations, bringing 1.6m visits to the city over eight days of celebrations.
For Martin, the Fleadh showed him how far Belfast has come over the last few decades and also served as a reminder that, even after 60 years of playing music, there are still some surprises left.
Neil Martin was bowled over by the music, atmosphere and togetherness of All Ireland Fleadh
Martin recalled his first All-Ireland Fleadh in Listowel in 1973, but said the prospect of the festival coming north was not a realistic aspiration then.
"It's not something I thought I'd ever see, to be honest," he said.
"But because of the political unrest here and the Troubles, I just couldn't have imagined that it would have been accepted by all sections of the community here."