Alliance have accused the DUP of secretly wanting rid of the all-Ireland Fleadh after a related event clashed with pipe band championships – sparking outrage from the Democratic Unionists.

Despite the DUP repeatedly saying they welcomed the Fleadh and the tourism boost it will bring, both the SDLP and Alliance insisted they’re secretly harbouring ulterior motives over the clash, with the SDLP accusing them of propagating a “fake line” while Alliance alleged they’d been “muttering about their objections for weeks”.

As the News Letter exclusively revealed earlier this month, an eight-hour ‘Fleadh Fringe’ Irish folk show is to be staged on the same day as the 73rd annual Ulster Pipe Band Championships, each one taking place just a few minutes’ walk from each other in Bangor on August 1st. The all-Ireland Fleadh begins in Belfast the following day.

The clash may result in pipe band parades being rerouted or restricted, while the Co Down city’s council is due to spend more money on the fringe than the Ulster Championships.

placeholder image — Competitors in 2019's UK Pipe Band Championships. This year's Ulster Pipe Band Championships are to be held in a large park in Bangor, happening at the same time and just a few minutes' walk from an open-air eight-hour concert connected to the all-Ireland Fleadh. Photo: David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press

Last night the clashing events were to be rubber-stamped during a council meeting, only for it to descend into a verbal battle when the DUP sought to have the issue investigated further.

Pointing out the band championships had already been scheduled for August 1st, DUP group leader alderman Stephen McIlveen said they would take up a large amount of the council’s available staff and resources, forcing it to hire outside workers to handle the Fleadh. Mr McIlveen suggested moving the fringe to a different day when staff are free, reducing costs.

He wanted the Fleadh Fringe sent back to a council committee to discuss further options – sparking the ire of the SDLP and Alliance, who accused the DUP of having ulterior motives.

SDLP councillor Joe Boyle labelled the DUP’s repeated insistence that they welcome the Fleadh and its tourism boost a “fake line”, stating: “I don’t believe they do welcome it, I believe they can see it far enough.”

Claiming they had been “dragged kicking and screaming over an event [they] don’t really want”, Mr Boyle accused the DUP of “dithering and spluttering along” as a delaying tactic before telling his opponents: “Just swallow it, get on and get the event organised.”

DUP councillors maintained they only want a second look at procedures, but Alliance councillor Chris McCracken claimed they’d been “muttering about their objections to the Fleadh for some weeks”.

“Few, unfortunately, will believe the explanation that has been given, so I don’t really understand why [they’re] bringing it forward,” he said. “I don’t think people will accept the reason being given by the DUP is the real reason.”

Challenged over his claims, with the Democratic Unionists saying there was no evidence to back them up, Mr McCracken was given the chance to withdraw his remarks or apologise. He refused, saying he was justified as one DUP councillor hadn’t supported the Fleadh Fringe during a committee vote – though on that night, the rest were in favour.