The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar last week reportedly drew up to 600,000 attendees, considerably surpassing predictions.

Willie Penrose, vice chairman of the Fleadh Committee, claimed that attendance levels had “blown out of the water” expectations.

With competition entries from 12 nations, hundreds of participants from Ireland and overseas battled it out for All-Ireland crowns during the course of the week.

The annual Comhaltas Summer School, Scoil Éigse, attracted hundreds of pupils.

“The Fleadh in Mullingar has been an outstanding success again this year and has greatly overshot our initial attendance estimations for the event,” said Labhrás Ó Murchú, Árdstiúrthóir of Comhaltas.

“We are delighted to have welcomed so many newcomers to this yearly celebration, and to have reached even further to communities overseas. A true example of Irish culture connecting communities no matter where they are in the world.”

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is set to take place in Wexford next year.