Féile 2024 Begins This Weekend in Derry

Féile, Derry’s biggest community arts festival returns this weekend for the 32nd year. Over the next eight days, over 120 events at Féile 2024 will take place across the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, Bishop Street, Fountain neighbourhoods and Derry City centre.

 The festival begins on Saturday 10th August with a family fun event, Party in The Park at Pilots Row. Patrick Magee will be at Museum of Free Derry to discuss his memoir 'Where grieving begins?' with Martina Anderson at Museum of Free Derry while Féile's latest film production 'Tony Doc', following legendary Creggan sportsman and community worker, Tony O'Doherty, will premiere at St Mary's Youth Club in Creggan. 

 On Sunday, The Colm Quigley Jog In The Bog, will see hundreds of runners of all ages take to the streets of the Bogside in one of the key events in the summer road race calendar. The team at Hive Cancer Support will bring 'FestHIVEal' to The Gasyard Park on Sunday afternoon. This free festival for children, young people and families will give you the opportunity to learn about the connection between the environment, exercise, nutrition, physical/mental wellbeing and health. ‘The Gathering’, a one day festival at Sandinos on Sunday celebrating the best contemporary trad and folk music in Ireland with performances from John Francis Flynn, Ronan O'Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly and Lemoncello. On Sunday evening, The Nerve Centre will screen acclaimed film-maker Alan Gilsenan's films 'The Irish Question' and 'Days of Trees' before Brunswick Moviebowl welcomes proud Creggan man, DJ Próvaí from hip-hop act, Kneecap, for a special sold out homecoming screening of Oscar tipped movie Kneecap. 

 The festival continues across the neighbourhoods and Derry City centre until Saturday August 17th. Musical highlights include the Ulster Orchestra performing at local care home residencies on Tuesday August 13th while The Whistlin' Donkeys will play a massive outdoor concert at The Gasyard Park on Thursday August 15th. Electronic music and hip-hop/grime fans are spoilt for choice at Féile 2024 with Dublin artist, Sello, playing Sandinos on Tuesday night and Erol Alkan and Ivan Smagghe at 57 Waterloo St on Friday August 16th.

 Féile 2024 has a packed programme of activities for children, young people and families with summer schemes, family fun days and bus trips throughout the week. The Greatest Show and The Big Family Night Out will bring some of the country’s finest magicians, musicians, acrobats and comedy acts to parks and green spaces across the neighbourhood. Wan Big Street Party on Central Drive and the Lúnasa celebrations in Creggan on Thursday 15th August are unmissable events for all the family. 

 Older people’s organisations across the area have come together to produce an extensive programme for our older residents including days out, bingo, social events and musical performances at local older people’s residences.

 Each year, Féile delivers a strong programme of political debates, talks and difficult conversations and 2024 is no exception. Themes this year include climate change, racism, reconciliation, the ongoing debate around what a new Ireland will look like, the worsening drugs crisis in our communities and the continuing demand for increased student numbers at Magee. Panellists at Féile 2024 include human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, journalist and author Brian Rowan, Professor of Human Rights law at Queens, Colin Harvey and Professor Anne Campbell, Member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

 Féile 2024's extensive programme of films and documentaries continues nightly at The Nerve Centre Cinema.  The ongoing genocide in Palestine will be highlighted with screenings of 'No Other Land' and 'Where Olive Trees Weep'. On Tuesday 13th August, Féile will screen 'The Building & Burning of A Refugee Camp' and 'I Must Away', two important films from Dennis Harvey that tackle issues of violence & intimidation against refugees and minorities. The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion afterwards with three activists working in Dublin, Shane O'Curry, Niamh McDonald and Olivia Headon.  The work of emerging and established Derry film-makers will be screened throughout the festival including works by award winning film-makers Seán Mullan, Diana Cheung and Séan Coyle. 

 There will be several outdoor exhibitions at Féile 2024 including ‘Camerawork – When Things Were Black & White’, an exhibition by Creggan Artists and 'Out & Out', a photographic exhibition celebrating the local LGBTQIA+ community.

 Féile 2024 would not be possible without the support of funders including The Executive Office, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and the collaboration of the many groups, initiatives, volunteers and residents from throughout the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, Bishop Street and Fountain areas who have come together to shape and manage this programme of events.

Check out the full Féile 2024 programme: bit.ly/3Wr5QOl.