Fleadh Cheoil ====== It has become one of the biggest and longest running free music festivals in the world. A few hundred traditional music followers attended the first Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar in 1951. Last summer, many thousands from all over the world were back in the midlands, this time in Tullamore for the third year in a row, and this series of six half hours programmes captures the fun, excitement and good music that happens each year at this truly international music event. With thousands of musicians in Tullamore the Fleadh programmes feature many of the top names in traditional music as well as several talented new performers. Some to look out for are John Spillane, Eileen O’Brien, Liz and Yvonne Kane, Karen Tweed, Danny O’Mahony, Fiachra O’Regan, We Banjo 3, Caladh Nua, The Woodbines and Senior Céilí Band champions The Dartry Céilí Band from Sligo. The Fleadh Cheoil series is presented by John Creedon and Breda Smyth and the six part series starts on RTE 1 on Friday 9th April at 7.30pm. Fleadh Cheoil – six part series starts on Friday 9th April at 7.30pm RTÉ 1