Record Attendance at the 2013 All Ireland Music Festival ( Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Doire '13)

The 2013 All Ireland Music Festival, or Fleadh Cheoil na hErieann, was held this year in the Ulster city of Derry (Doire).  The Belfast Telegraph reports that over 430,000 attended the week long festival which included musical performances, art exhibitions, workshops in dance , Irish language events and an exhibition of Gaelic Ireland & Scotland sacred music and literature at Derry's majestic St. Columb's Cathedral.  

An exhibition of etching's focused on the images of The Hunger which ravaged Ireland in the 1840's and inflicted untold damge to the Celtic culture of the island.  The official Home Page of the event decribes the exhibition: "Famine Folio is the work of the Belfast artist Ivan Armstrong and consists of 8 large etchings, which refer to conditions, incidents and legislation during the period 1845-1849 which has been describes as Ireland's Aushwitz."

The mayor of Derry, Martin Reilly, said the Fleadh had been a phenomenal event during a remarkable week; "As a city we have delighted in opening our arms to the thousands of international visitors and I want to mention in particular the visitors from the length and breadth of the Republic of Ireland, many of whom have never visted or stayed in the city before now."

http://www.derryjournal.com/what-s-on/arts-culture/a-chance-to-showcase-all-that-s-good-about-derry-1-5381955

http://www.fleadhcheoil.ie/

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/fleadhbulous-finale-as-festival-breaks-all-records-29508863.html