Free tickets are now available for Croí na Cathrach – Heart of the City, a one-night concert at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Saturday 1 August 2026.
The event is free to attend, with tickets being issued through ulsterhall.co.uk on a first-come, first-served basis. Belfast City Council says bookings are limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. A start time was not included in the source notice.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Event | Croí na Cathrach – Heart of the City |
| Date | Saturday 1 August 2026 |
| Venue | Ulster Hall, Belfast |
| Price | Free |
| Booking | First come, first served; maximum two tickets per person |
| Best suited for | General audiences interested in music, song, readings and Belfast’s shared heritage |
A Belfast concert on the eve of Fleadh Cheoil
Croí na Cathrach – Heart of the City is being held as Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, welcomes Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to Belfast.
The concert comes the evening before Fleadh Cheoil begins on Sunday 2 August, placing Ulster Hall at the centre of a wider week of traditional arts, music and cultural gatherings in the city.
Belfast City Council describes the evening as a celebration of Belfast’s rich and diverse shared heritage, bringing together leading musicians, performers and readers for a programme built around music, song and words.
Liam Ó Maonlaí, Stephen Rea and Ciarán Hinds among the names billed
The programme is curated by composer Neil Martin and presented by broadcaster Lynette Fay.
Hothouse Flowers lead vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Liam Ó Maonlaí is listed for a special guest performance. Oscar-nominated actors Stephen Rea and Ciarán Hinds are due to perform readings throughout the evening.
A specially curated orchestra of 100 fiddles, gathered from across Ulster, will also perform, with special guests from Glasgow, The Southside Fiddlers.
Other highlights include a performance by The Chieftains’ Matt Molloy alongside Paddy Glackin of the Bothy Band with an orchestra. Singer Roisin Chambers and harpist Séana Davey are also named in the programme, while Belfast-born percussionist Noel Eccles is set to play a central role.
Pipe bands, brass and the Mulholland Grand Organ
The evening will also feature the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, described in the source notice as 13-time world champions.
Campbell College Pipe Band will collaborate with the 1st Old Boys’ Brass Band and an orchestra for a combined ensemble rendition of The Minstrel Boy. Tristan Russcher is due to play the Ulster Hall’s famous Mulholland Grand Organ as part of that performance.
The mix of fiddles, pipes, brass, readings and organ music gives the event a broader shape than a standard concert listing. It is framed by the council as a civic welcome and a musical reflection of Belfast’s communities as Fleadh Cheoil arrives in the city.
How to get free tickets
Tickets for Croí na Cathrach – Heart of the City are available from ulsterhall.co.uk.
The allocation is limited and tickets are being released on a first-come, first-served basis. Each person can book a maximum of two tickets.
No venue address, start time, accessibility detail or transport information was included in the source notice, so attendees should check their ticket details before travelling.
Source: Belfast City Council
Source check Source trail
This preview is based on the Belfast City Council event notice and keeps to the confirmed date, venue, ticket terms and named performers.
- Confirmed the event name as Croí na Cathrach – Heart of the City.
- Confirmed the venue as Ulster Hall in Belfast.
- Confirmed the date as Saturday 1 August 2026.
- Confirmed that tickets are free, limited and capped at two per person.
- Source
- Belfast City Council
- Scope
- Belfast
- Updated
- 2026-06-26 11:23
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments