WATCH: 4,000 competitors through the doors of Derry Feis this Easter

“This week was absolutely fantastic; it has exceeded all of our expectations.”

That was the delighted assessment of Aisling Clifford, secretary of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille.

She and the other members of the indefatigable Derry Feis committee were just about to make their way to the Ballroom of St Columb’s Hall to sing Danny Boy which traditionally marks the close of the iconic week-long cultural event.

“I don’t know how to explain how good the week was. I have to say, the Feis is alive and living in Derry. I honestly cannot believe how many people have come through the door this week - competitors and visitors alike,” said Aisling.

“We have had packed audiences every day and every night. The number of parents and teachers who have come to support us is phenomenal but, on top of that, I would say between 3,000 and 4,000 children and young people have taken part in the competitions, in the Playhouse and in St Columb’s Hall. 

“The Playhouse has been very busy all week hosting the drama competitions, and then we are doing everything else down here in the Hall - Teanga, Traditional Music, Instrumental, Singing and the large group dramas. 

“That is not to mention that on Thursday and Friday we had the Irish Dancing, in which An Chomhdhail and An Coimisiún dance on stage together which is not done anywhere else in the world; it is unique to Derry Feis. 

“People reminisce about the halcyon days of the Feis as being the 1970s and the 1980s but I honestly think, 2025 has been outstanding. The atmosphere all week was absolutely fabulous. I have lost track of the number of people who have come to me this week in St Columb’s Hall and congratulated us on the event,” grinned Aisling.

Aisling added that Derry Feis was also delighted to have received a number of new cups this year.

“We had the The Haan Cup which was presented by the Haan Family,” she said. “We  also had the Paddy Carlin Cup which was awarded to the choir of St Mary’s College in the city at our choral competitions on Holy Tuesday. That cup was presented by the Colmcille Choir, which Paddy conducted for many years, and the Carlin Family. 

“In addition, we had the Mayor’s Cup, which Mayor Barr generously presented to us this year too. 

“Tonight [Friday] we have the Champion of Champions Irish Dancing competition; it is for the overall winners of the dancing competitions which have been going on this last couple of days. 

“The winners of that competition will receive the beautiful, brand new Fr Mullan sculpture which we commissioned from Rory Harron, the sculptor who produced the recently unveiled sculpture of Fr Hegarty at Fr Hegarty’s Rock in Buncrana. It is a fabulous, fabulous award,” said Aisling. 

The joint winners of the Fr Mullan prize were Khloe McConomy-Bradley and Gary O’Doherty who dance for the McConomy Bradley Doherty Academy in the city. 

The joint winners of the Fr Mullan prize were Khloe McConomy-Bradley and Gary O’Doherty who dance for the McConomy Bradley Doherty Academy in the city.

Derry Feis PRO, Eamon Sweeney told The Derry News this year’s Feis  had been “one of the most successful he could remember” in his lifetime.

Feis choirs ‘amongst best in the world’ – Dr Sean Doherty

Fifteen choirs from across the primary and post-primary sectors in Derry contested a total of nine competitions

IN PICTURES: Local schools participate in Feis Dhoire Cholmcille Choral Section

Fifteen choirs from across the primary and post-primary sectors in Derry contested a total of nine competitions

“My involvement with Derry Feis as a competitor goes back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. We haven’t crunched all of the numbers yet but I would estimate we had 4,000 children and young people competing this year,” said Eamon, who attributed the success partly to social media. 

“Social media is the foremost medium by which to contact people these days. Derry Feis has  moved away from our traditional reliance on print and writing,” he added.

“Not only does it allow us to promote the Feis, it is a good way for people to contact us with queries. We Have been building our social media profile up over the past three years  - since 2023, our centenary year. The Facebook analytics are showing that in the last month we have had just under two million views. That is phenomenal uptake. 

“We obviously have a massive outreach in terms of social media. A lot of that has to do with the fact it is a straightforward public information site for feis users and goers. However, it also harnesses the use of nostalgia which people love as well. We have tried to mix that  up with up-to-date video content as well. In addition, anyone who stands in front of our banner and sends us the photographs, we will put them on our page. 

“People all over the world seem to be taking an interest in the cultural output of Derry Feis and we couldn’t be  any more pleased. 2.5% of our followers are in the US and 1.5% are in Australia. I  imagine this is the Irish diaspora or perhaps the Derry diaspora paying attention to what is going on in their hometown.”