The attraction, of course, was the world’s biggest festival of traditional Irish music, with professional musicians mixing with child buskers creating a wonderful atmosphere.

I remember an old advertising campaign in the nineties, ‘Belfast’s got the buzz’, an attempt to attract people, mainly shoppers back into a city centre scarred by the Troubles. The Fleadh brought the buzz back to our streets instantly and for many residents, like me, who remember the security barriers, seeing the crowds in our home city triggered emotions of relief and pure joy.

Before the tunes faded out, the festival gave us a tantalising glimpse of the potential for a better Belfast.

In the middle of the city-wide joy, there was an essential ingredient which made it all possible and has attracted much attention – pedestrianisation of the city centre.

Success of pedestrianisation during Covid

While it may not be possible to recreate ‘Fleadh Fever’ all year round, it’s a fact that where towns and cities have put people first and created more pedestrian space, business has thrived and people want to spend more time and money in these areas.

Looking south to Dublin; in the wake of Covid, Capel Street became car-free and has been transformed into a vibrant, relaxed space where people linger, socialise and spend more time, and crucially, more money.

We had the same chance at the time with Hill Street, pictured here in the Cathedral Quarter but fluffed it. Doing this properly with moveable bollards should now be a priority.

Business benefits from pedestrianisation

Across the water, weekend pedestrianisation of town centre roads – with disabled access retained – has seen Shrewsbury become an unlikely al fresco, café culture hotspot. Businesses are benefiting as a result. Data has shown sales growth in the pedestrianised area was 25% higher than in non-pedestrianised areas.

Further afield, shops in pedestrianised areas in 14 cities across Spain were shown to have generated higher sales volumes compared to non-pedestrianised areas.

A survey in Leicester has also shown that vacancy rates are five times higher on streets with high levels of traffic. This backs up what we can see for ourselves in streets across Northern Ireland. The volume of footfall at the Fleadh led to long-term derelict sites and car parks transformed into thriving shops, cafes and bars.

Consultation due on greater pedestrianisation 

The economic evidence is clear. We need political will and those in authority to communicate the case effectively.

It has long been recognised by transport authorities that most traffic in the city centre is ‘through traffic.’ This means the majority of people are not stopping and shopping but cutting through.

The Department for Infrastructure has plans for greater pedestrianisation of Belfast city centre through the Eastern Transport Plan, due out soon for public consultation. There are compromises in this including retaining access for buses around Belfast City Hall, Donegall Place and Royal Avenue – the very places many people would like to see pedestrianised.

The Plan will hopefully spark a positive debate and imaginative solutions, but we can’t go back to the status quo.

Importance of greening our cities

Pedestrianisation improves access and safety for all, including people with disabilities, but it can only work with reliable and accessible public transport, including increased capacity for Park and Rides.

Imagine the city spine along Donegall Place transformed into a leafy, tree-lined boulevard with green space, children’s play areas and outdoor dining. A grand avenue, worthy of European counterparts, that people would want to visit.

The importance of greening our city centres is even more urgent given the relentless heatwaves and flooding that are becoming the norm.

If this seems too ambitious, then we should at least be aiming to do more with what we’ve already got.

The historic legacy of security concerns has meant Belfast already has many pedestrianised streets such as Cornmarket, Ann Street, and Arthur Street.

However, in recent years many of these spaces are buzzing less with people and more with the sound of delivery vehicles and cars.

Many cities, including London, have worked with businesses to make sure commercial deliveries are made in the early mornings or late evenings, outside peak pedestrian times.

Pedestrianisation can achieve footfall all year round

The Fleadh’s success was ultimately the result of a range of local authorities working well together.

The risk now is dismissing the chance for change based on the notion that pedestrianisation was necessary as a one-off to facilitate Fleadh footfall, rather than believing it is a means to achieving sustained, year-round increased visitors.

The old arguments would have you believe that putting people walking, wheeling and cycling first would be detrimental for businesses already experiencing a cost-of-living crisis.

These tropes were drowned out by the music – we’ve now witnessed the huge opportunities for the city’s economy.

The question now is, can Belfast afford to let the magic fade and slip back to the status quo?

• A version of this blog was published in the Belfast Telegraph on 25 August 2026