A short history of the Fleadh and what to expect in August

The TG4 star has just been announced as the anchor host for FleadhLive, an innovative new all-media project that will involve the production of eight High Definition (HD) broadcast quality music shows - three lunchtime shows live from the newly-refurbished Guildhall and five club style shows from the Craft Village.

Eighteen hours of quality live TV will be produced in total.

The footage will also be beamed live from a range of huge outdoor TV screens that will be installed at key locations in the city.

FleadhLive will also be available online and whilst TV partners this side of the pond have not yet been secured the organisers are hopeful of movement on this front by August.

Speaking to the Sentinel during a pre-production visit on Friday (May 18), Síle said: “I was first approached for Fleadh Live about three weeks ago and jumped at the chance.”

She explained the format will be similar to that perfected by online music site GiftedLive, an ‘online music show’ which broadcasts live gigs from the likes of Belfast’s Empire and Monroe’s in Galway.

As a fan of GiftedLive, which is presented by Paul Walsh of the band Royseven, she said she had no hesitation in getting involved.

And in terms of what Londonderry can expect in August she said: “As well as all the main events we’re going to be covering a lot of the street sessions too. In fact, we are looking for a second presenter, who will have a bit more freedom to wander. So if anyone’s interested you can get more details at fleadh.ie,” she explained.

During her visit to the city on Friday she said she was really impressed with what Londonderry had to offer.

“The set up is incredible. I’ve never seen the like of it. Because you have a city with different venues, it’s a lot different to being confined to a studio,” she said.

She also revealed that a range of big screens will be placed around the city in order to relay all the action live in real time.

“Huge screens are going to be placed all over the city. We’ll be running Twitter and social media updates and people will be able to access FleadhLive using the free Wifi availble,” she added.

Anne-Marie Gallagher, of Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, said securing Síle’s services was a major coup for the Fleadh.

“It’s a big deal that we have her on board,” she said.

The exciting new project follows talks between the Fleadh organisers and US-based Waterside native Tony Culley-Foster.

Mr Culley-Foster was pivotal in putting the people involved in UK City of Culture 2013 in touch with US media magnate Frederick Thomas.

Mr Thomas this year launched a brand new ‘Ireland Today’ channel that will broadcast events from Londonderry throughout UK City of Culture 2013 in the US.