More than 1.65 million people attended the eight-day Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast, contributing tens of millions of pounds to the local economy, according to organisers.

During the same period, Translink recorded 1.7 million passenger journeys, an increase of 620,000 compared with the same week last year.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said delivering transport for the event was a significant achievement and required months of planning across organisations. She said transport services, traffic management and road network operations all played a role in supporting the Fleadh, and that the level of public transport use showed how effective it can be for moving large numbers of people safely and efficiently.

Sinn Féin MLA Aisling Reilly said the additional journeys demonstrated how many people wanted to visit Belfast for the event. She commended Translink staff for their work and said there would be lessons from the scale of the event, with next year expected to be larger.

Around 100 businesses received street trading licences for the week, including 60 inside the pedestrianised event zone between High Street, Bridge Street and Royal Avenue and a further 40 outside that area. Temporary pavement cafe licences and entertainment licences were also granted.

Several temporary venues operated during the Fleadh. The Donegal on Donegall Street used a vacant former warehouse as an outdoor beer garden. The Electric Light Station in Chapel Lane, the site of Belfast's first municipal power station, was run by Lavery's and has no current plans for future use. Peter Keegan's Bar in Callender Street also opened, and Fleadh at North Street used a car park that will now revert to its previous use.

Belfast City Council said the pop-up bars were facilitated by occasional liquor licences granted by the courts and that any future operation would require new applications and possibly planning permission.

Organiser Niall McClean said the event brought every community together. A multicultural suite included the Shankill Defenders Flute Band, which received an encore, alongside Scottish highland players and Indian musicians. McClean received a Ceannródaithe Bardic Award from Catherine Connolly and Lord Mayor of Belfast Róis-Máire Donnelly.

The Fleadh returns to Belfast from August 1 to 8 next year.