President Higgins has officially opened Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2016, in Ennis, Co. Clare.

The nine-day event is the largest traditional music festival in the world, and this year around four hundred thousand people are expected to attend.

About 6,000 of those will be taking part in competitions, many of them coming from abroad.

During his speech at today's opening ceremony, President Higgins highlighted the role of the Fleadh in spreading Irish culture across the world: