Lee Reynolds said there were questions for Northern Ireland cultural bodies on why the Fleadh organisers built better relations than they had.

Visitor numbers were estimated to have topped one million by Friday evening ahead of final weekend of festivities.

IT was an exciting start to the new year at Portlaoise comhaltas when plans were announced to visit Tennessee for St Patrick’s week. The musicians and dancers will travel to the Volunteer State in the second week of March.

Groups and musicians from Camross, Portarlington, Portlaoise and Camross received funding