Traditional music fans from all corners of Co Monaghan will be travelling to Scotstown this bank holiday weekend to take part in the annual County Fleadh.For the second year running, the Fleadh will extend for four days with the festival kicking off on Thursday, 3 June with a bilingual table quiz in St. Mary's Hall, Urbleshanny, Scotstown.  Admission is free and the quiz starts at 8.30pm sharp.

On Friday evening in the same venue at 8.30pm, well-known Scotstown historian Mackie Rooney will deliver a lecture on local musician Francie McKenna who died in 1975. The late Mr McKenna had a unique system of music notation, an example of which will be used as the basis of a workshop with younger musicians before the lecture. The students will then perform some of the tunes from Francie McKenna’s music system during the lecture.  Once again admission is free.

The all-important music competitions get underway on Saturday 5 June in Urbleshanny National School. There is an earlier start this year with competitions beginning at 10am.  In previous years the 15 - 18 and senior solo competitions would have started after lunch but with the earlier start this year they will take place as soon as the under 12 and 12 - 15 age groups have finished. This means that in a number of categories the 15 - 18 and senior competitions will begin before lunch. Therefore all solo, duet and trio competitors should ensure that they are present from 10am in Scotstown as competitions cannot be held open indefinitely. All group and band competitions are scheduled to begin at 3pm.

Comhaltas County Secretary, Mary Kirke, has confirmed that the under nine tin whistle competition which was introduced for the first time in 2007 has been retained. This is an initiative that aims to give young musicians a taste of competition but without the pressure of being expected to play more than one piece or of competing beyond the county as winners in the under nine category will not be progressing to the Ulster Fleadh. The Fleadh will conclude with a junior music session and Céilí na nȮg in St. Mary’s Hall on Sunday, 6 June at 7pm. This is a later time than previously advertised because of the senior football match in Casement Park, Belfast during the day.