“We had the best week of our lives and just to see the city so alive and everyone singing with us was just the most amazing experience”
From shutting down Royal Avenue, captivating Commercial Court to performing on the stage at Custom House Square, Belfast band The Shamrocks are one of the standout stories from Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026.
The Irish folk band, made up of both sides of the community, was formed to bring Irish music across the globe and show off the talent we have right here in Belfast.
Having performed some of the most famous stages in the world, including the Sydney Opera House, it was pop-up gigs on the streets of their home city which they will talk about for years to come.
As the dust settled on “the best week” in their lives, The Shamrocks band member Raymond Walsh chatted to Belfast Live about their experience at Fleadh Cheoil, resonating with audiences at home and what is next for The Shamrocks.
While working in London, Raymond came up with the concept of starting an Irish Folk music band that would feel like a “welcoming space” for all who listened and show off local talent.
He said: “I was working in London at the time on a show, and every time I left Stage Door, people would say to me ‘oh you’re from Belfast, is that safe?’
“I was always like it’s the best place on earth, and then I was like I wonder if I could create something that not only showcases the amazing talent we have in Belfast, but also the message of how far things have come in the last sort of 30 years.”
From there, The Shamrocks were born and began taking their music across the globe so that others could enjoy the power of Irish music.
Lined up to play the Fleadh Zone at Custom House Square during the festival, which Raymond said was a “dream gig”, the band decided to clear the schedule and be ready for anything the Fleadh Cheoil could throw their way.
“As the week went on, I was noticing these amazing bars and moments at places like the Haymarket, the Electric Light Station – sent out a couple of Instagram DMs and I was like ‘would you have us?’
“So we just sort of showed up everywhere and anywhere that would have us. We were like a bad smell, Belfast couldn’t get rid of us last week,” he laughed.
“We had the best week of our lives and just to see the city so alive and everyone singing with us was just the most amazing experience.”
One of the biggest takeaways for the band from the Fleadh was being able to reach a larger audience at home and share their talents where it means most to them.
Raymond continued: “We were able to engage with local people and have them resonate with our music, with our message.
“Belfast, for us, is our favourite place on earth – genuinely, we’re so proud to call it home.
“So finally, to be able to get in front of all these people from here, feel accepted, feel welcomed… that’s always been our dream, for the people at home to be proud of us.
“I think the Fleadh was the first time ever that we were able to look at each other and go I think people in Belfast have taken us in and are supporting us now. It was just absolutely incredible.”
Raymond said that of all the amazing moments they had during the Fleadh, the gig at Haymarket was his standout moment of the entire week.
“As we turned that corner onto Royal Avenue and just saw the masses of crowds, we were like ‘this can’t be for us’,” he explained.
“And then we showed up and they were like ‘yeah boys, it is’. When we were singing and we saw there was a guy on top of a traffic light and people on top of food trucks and stuff like that, we were like maybe this is our Beatles rooftop moment.
“Haymarket really was up there – probably because it was such a surprise, we weren’t expecting it. We loved it.”
The Shamrocks will most definitely be back for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2027 and Raymond said no doubt things will be “bigger and better”.
If you cannot wait that long to see them perform again, they are currently preparing for their biggest show to date at The O2 Belfast on November 20 which will be their “most ambitious project ever”.
Ryanmond said: “We’re going to be basically trying to recreate the magic of the Fleadh.
“We’re going to have a massive band, there’s going to be Irish dancers. We’re going to have great support acts that we haven’t announced yet.”
The band thanked everyone who has followed their journey over the past eight years – whether you have been here from the start or are a newfound fan since the Fleadh and hope that the magic they felt performing last week is something that will remain in Belfast beyond the festival.
“Belfast, let’s keep the message of the Fleadh going.
“Let’s keep looking after each other, let’s keep being accepting, let’s keep encouraging everyone from every culture, every background, every religion to be able to be celebrated because that’s the thing that makes this city so special.”
For more information about their upcoming Belfast show or to get tickets, see here
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