The 51st Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann will officially kick off in Cavan tomorrow, with events running in the town and its environs until August 22nd. This is the second consecutive year that the event, founded in Mullingar in 1951, has been staged in Cavan Town. Tens of thousands of musicians, storytellers, dancers and, of course, plenty of revellers, will line the streets and pack the venues over its nine-day duration.

Although the Fleadh is designed to promote a certain standard in Irish traditional music and dance, there will be plenty of workshops, walks and more to keep non-players and non-dancers entertained.

Many of the events will be free to attend. Highlights of the line-up this year include Sharon Shannon, Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny. It will also be the second time that the festival has been carbon-neutral, as organisers plan to plant a native oak forest to offset the carbon expended during the Fleadh. fleadh2011cavan.ie