Manx band ‘Mec Lir’ headlined the main stage at the world’s biggest festival of Irish music, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

It brought together the largest celebration of Irish traditional music in the world. It was also the first ever to be held in Belfast.

More than 1.6 million people visited Belfast during the eight-day Fleadh, which is more than double the 700,000 visitors organisers had initially expected.

Established in 1951 and organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the event attracts thousands of musicians and more than 4,500 competitors to its host city each year.

Its staging in Belfast, a UNESCO City of Music, marked a significant moment for traditional music across Northern Ireland.

The band took over the ‘Gig Rig’ stage which was the main outdoor one right next to Belfast City Hall.

Band member David Kilgallon said: ‘It was an honour to headline that stage alongside some of our musical heroes, and to be part of something historic for the city. The whole week was about people celebrating where their music comes from, and it meant a lot to bring a Manx voice into that.

‘Our tradition is part of the same Celtic family. Playing to thousands of people in front of the City Hall, with the set going out on screens across Belfast, is not something any of us will forget.’

This concert came at the end of a busy summer for the band as they toured across five countries: Stornoway, London, Brittany, Italy, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The band toured as a six-piece, featuring founder members Tomas Callister on fiddle, David Kilgallon on keyboards, Greg Barry on drums and Adam Rhodes on bouzouki, alongside guest musicians Paddy Callaghan on button accordion and Lyle Watt on guitar.

Ciaran Ryan joined the line-up on banjo for the Lorient leg of the tour, making it a seven-piece. Callister, Rhodes and Kilgallon are all from the island.