The 14-year-old who can play seven instruments - tuning up for the fleadh

The world's largest festival of Irish music and dance is coming to Belfast in the summer - and the McClean family are getting their instruments in fine tune.

Niall and Bronagh McClean have been instrumental in bringing Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the all-Ireland Fleadh - to the city. It is expected to attract 800,000 people during the first week in August.

The couple and their children – Seamus, 14, Dominic, 11, Mary Cait, 9, and Orla, 5 – are all musicians and hoping to perform at the fleadh.

"I am looking forward to the fleadh, it brings everyone together," said Seamus, who plays seven instruments.

Niall, who has been playing Irish traditional music for more than 40 years, says it is a "dream come true".

"The music, the craic, the buzz, the atmosphere on the streets will be second to none," says Niall, who is co-chair of the organising committee.

Bronagh is involved in planning the programme for the main stage in the city centre.

Seamus plays the tin whistle, piano, violin, flute, guitar and uilleann pipes.

The festival is usually held across the border in the Irish republic and in recent years has been held Wexford, Mullingar and Drogheda.

The McClean family normally have a long journey to the fleadh but this year it is only a short trip from their home in north Down.

"It's amazing," says Bronagh.

"We're looking forward to seeing it on our doorstep."

Bronagh and Niall are steeped in the Irish musical tradition.

Niall says: "My mother was a music teacher and my dad played.

"There were seven children in the house, we all played so there was always music in the house … it was always in my blood really from an early age.

"Myself and Bronagh started classes in Bangor about 20 years ago. It was just to give a chance to young musicians to come together - and we now have some of those kids teaching with us."

The fleadh is run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (association of the musicians of Ireland).

Niall is the chair of the Ards branch of the organisation.

Colleen McCleery, vice-chair of the branch, says the McClean family have been the driving force behind the growth of Irish traditional music in the area.

"It's a real testament to work that they've put in that the Fleadh is coming to Belfast this year," she said.

"I started going to lessons with Niall when I was six. That was over 20 years ago."

Colleen was one of dozens of performers who recently took part in a warm-up event in Bangor for the fleadh.

Musicians aged from five to 65 were involved, playing a range of instruments including harps, fiddles and accordions.

In May, King Charles and Queen Camilla accompanied musicians from the branch at an event in Belfast to mark the hosting of the fleadh.

The Royal couple played bodhrán drums.

The Fleadh has only been held in Northern Ireland once before, in 2013 in Londonderry when it attracted around 400,000 visitors and 20,000 performers.

It is being held in Belfast from 2 to 9 August, and will take place in the city again next summer.

Organisers say it will be a multi-cultural event, involving many different musical traditions.

"I think it'll be one of the best of all time," said Niall.

"It will be something Belfast will remember for a long, long time to come."

The peak period of visitors is expected from 6 to 9 August.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) was founded in 1951 by traditional musicians and Gaelic culture advocates from across the island of Ireland.

They sought to enhance traditional Irish music, dance and language in Ireland.

Each year CCE hosts numerous fleadhanna (festivals) at county and provincial level.