west belfast events guide€¦ · west belfast events guide eolaí imeachtaí iarthar bhéal...
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West Belfast Events guideEolaí Imeachtaí IartharBhéal Feirste
2019
Ph
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by
Mal
McC
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Welcome to West Belfast, the heart of Ireland’s second city. A visit to this part of the city is packed with history, culture, exciting events, access to The Belfast Hills, great food, shopping and home to Europe’s largest outdoor and free public art gallery, the famous Wall Murals.
In this publication you will find a packed calendar of events throughout the year ranging from local community festivals to flagship international events. Everything from headline concerts in the Falls Park to ground-breaking debates and discussions.
We also have a number of beneficial trails to help you on your discovery of west Belfast. Trails that will help you explore the rich cultural and political history of this wonderful part of the city.
So take a look through and save the dates as we prepare for a wonderful year ahead in 2019.
St Brigid’s Day 1st FebruaryLá Fhéile Bhríde, Saint Brigid's Feast Day marks the first day of Spring in Ireland. Brigid is one of Ireland’s patron saints and one of the most common traditions of the day is to make a Saint Brigid's Cross.
For more info go to www.visitwestbelfast.com
The 4 Corners Festival 30th January – 10th FebruarySeeks to inspire people from across Belfast to transform it for the peace and prosperity of all. Taking place annually in February, it comprises a range of events featuring discussion, music, prayer, drama, poetry and story-telling in venues across the city of Belfast.
It features innovative events designed to entice people out of their own ‘corners’ of the city and into new places where they will encounter new perspectives, new ideas and hopefully meet new friends.
www.4cornersfestival.com
Seachtain na Gaeilge 1st – 17th MarchThe biggest Irish language festival in Ireland
and across the world, Seachtain na Gaeilgecelebrates our native language and culture in Ireland.
For more information go to: www.visitwestbelfast.com
Aistear 2nd – 15th MarchAistear / Journey” festival runs in conjunction with Seachtain na Gaeilge. Recalling the story of Saint Patrick and looking at the modern day context for immigrants arriving in and adjusting to life the city of Belfast.
For more details contact:[email protected]
SPAR Craic 10K Sun 17th MarchThe SPAR Craic 10K will see 2000 runners take to the streets of the city St Patrick’s Day morning in what has been described as Belfast’s first urban run. The race will leave City Hall at 9.00am, passing through the Gaeltacht Quarter before finishing at Ormeau Park.
Gibraltar Strait 12th – 16th MarchA powerful, balanced and thought-provoking verbatim account of eyewitness testimonies and oral recordings from those involved.
Roddy McCorley Social Clubwww.brassnecktheatrecompany.com
St Patrick’s Day 17th MarchOne of the biggest days on the Irish calendar, celebrating Irelands most famous patron saint.
For all St Patrick’s themed events happening throughout west Belfast go to: www.visitwestbelfast.com
Féile an Earraigh 1st – 18th MarchOur traditional Spring festival, animating the city with Irish traditional music sessions, concerts, tours and walks, debates and discussions, dramas, exhibitions, literary events, youth and sporting events and family based activities throughout the month of March in the lead up to and over St Patrick’s weekend.
The Féile Trad Trail returns with a week long series of traditional Irish music events in venues across West Belfast from the Black Taxi Depot in King Street to the Balmoral Hotel with an array of talented musicians playing throughout the day in over 30 venues. Continuing our Trad Trail 'Gigs on the Glider' will see talented local trad musician's performing on the Glider journey through Belfast during Féile an Earraigh.
Returning after their sold out gig last year, ‘The Belfasters’ a tribute to Irish folk legends The Dubliner's will once again return to The Devenish Complex on Friday 15th March. With more events still to be announced including, a wonderful evening of music in the stunning surroundings of ClonardMonastery, this years Féile an Earraigh is shaping up to be the best yet. For more information, please visit www.feilebelfast.com
Official opening of Áras Uí Chonghaile 19th April (Good Friday)A state-of-the-art visitor centre in the heart of Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter telling the story of James Connolly from his birth in Edinburgh in 1868 to his death in Dublin in 1916.
Explore his role as a pioneer of the early trade union movement and learn of the Citizen Army he founded to protect workers, of his influence on the text of the Easter Proclamation, his bravery and leadership in the Easter Rising and of his subsequent court-martial, death sentence and execution.
This is the story of a truly remarkable man.This is the story of James Connolly.
For more information go to:www.arasuichonghaile.com
Easter CommemorationsThe Belfast community commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising with a series of events including a parade walking from Falls Road to Milltown Cemetery where there will be a number of keynote speakers.
Easter Monday will see a traditional Céili event held in Balmoral Hotel Belfast. An evening of the best local traditional musicians and dancing.
For more information on Easter events contact [email protected]
Easter Break 19th – 26th AprilExpect family fun-days, live music events, petting farms, Easter egg hunts and lots more during The west Belfast Spring break.
For more information go to: www.visitwestbelfast.com
Belfast Film Festival 11th – 20th April The Belfast Film Festival began in 1995 as part of Féile An Phobail and has developed with the evolving culture of film patronage and filmmaking in the city.For event information go to: www.belfastfilmfestival.org
Belfast City Marathon 5th May The annual sporting marathon runs every year in Belfast taking in all the wonderful sights, sound and landmarks across Belfast.
For more information go to: www.belfastcitymarathon.com
Festival of Fools 4th – 7th May This May Day Bank Holiday weekend the Festival of Fools brings a jam-packed programme of circus performances, featuring breath-taking acrobatics, gut-busting comedy and jaw-dropping juggling.
Féile na gCloigíní Gorma 12th – 19th May A week-long community festival based in the Upper Springfield area of West Belfast. The festival is a people’s celebration of community, health and the local environment. Each year from the month of May the field above the famous Black Mountain ‘Hatchet Field’ blooms and chimes with the glorious sight of a sea of indigenous wild ‘Blue Bells’.For generations of local people from the Upper Springfield this has effectively signalled the beginning of summer, and the hope and joy this means for local children and families.
Léargas 3rd – 7th JuneLéargas combines Irish with cultural workshops, talks and tours exploring our rich linguistic cultural heritage to inspire a broader understanding of Belfast’s story & connecting people to places.
Clonard Solemn Novena 12th – 20th JuneA wonderful 9 day festival of faith for all. It is a time to celebrate and renew our faith as a community. We pray with Mary and give thanks for God’s outpouring of abundant graces and crazy love. Come and join us. All are welcome
Summer School of Traditional Music 27th July – 3rd August The programme aims to deliver an annual Traditional Music Summer School within Belfast.
For more information contact:www.belfasttraditionalmusic.com
Féile An Phobail (TBA)Officially launching Féile’s plans for the August festival. With key speakers, live music, food, drink and craic agus ceol, this event is one not to be missed.
For more information go to:www.feilebelfast.com
Féile An Phobail August Festival 1st – 11th AugustFéile is at the heart of modern Belfast, where our communities are increasingly multi lingual and multi cultural. Féile has enabled our resilient and creative spirit to flourish and unlocked new opportunities for proudresidents. It allows us to see what determined, innovative, entrepreneurial people we can be when given the opportunity.
2019 brings an exciting line-up! Everything from street theatre, children’s events, parties in the park, concerts, sports, discussions, debates, exhibitions, dramas and readings in what is the largest community festival in Europe and summer school in Ireland!
For more event information go to:www.feilebelfast.com
Liú Lúnasa 21st – 25th AugustLiú Lúnasa is a community festival based in the heart of the Gaeltacht Quarter that provides music, movies, talks and family events with the Irish Language at the centre of everything they do.
Stay up to date with Liú Lúnasa at:www.facebook.com/liulunasa
Colin Summer Festival Dates TBAA series of fun events in the Colin area of West Belfast. There is something for everyone!
All events are free, though some events require booking. Contact: John Paul Russell at Colin Neighbourhood Partnership on 0289062 3813 or email [email protected].
European Heritage Open Days 13th , 14th & 15th September European Heritage Open Days take place every year on the second weekend of September. This year there will be over 300 FREE events including many venues across West Belfast!
The theme for 2019 is Arts and Entertainment presenting an opportunity to explore the tangible and intangible elements of heritage of arts and entertainment and learn about their history and architecture.
For more information go to:www.facebook.com/ehodni
Andersonstown & Brook Leisure Centre’sOfficially opens SeptemberThe opening of the new Andersonstown family leisure centre complex, that will consist of a large family fun water park, 25m 6 lane pool, gym facilities & outdoor pitches.
Brook Activity Centre will benefit from a new swimming pool and the creation of an outdoor centre of excellence for Gaelic Games and Soccer.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk
Féile na Carraige30th September – 6th OctoberA week long festival of debates, reflection and heated discussion, tied in with top quality music, drama and sports.
The Féile programme of events prioritise the primary aims of the Féile: participation, politics and community. thus, the events and projects being showcased during the Féile aim to create space and encourage people to think critically and take control of their own destiny.
www.glornamona.com
Respect Human Rights Film Festival 4th – 8th OctoberThe festival will screen a range of films/documentaries that promote a wider understanding of Human Rights subjects, such as, Immigration, Asylum, Women’s Rights, War & Conflict, Mental Health, LGBT Rights, Workers Rights, Environmental Concerns, Healthcare, Austerity & Disability Issues.
delivering a series of films, events and panel discussions exploring the wider cultural, human and socio-political implications of conflict and the countless ways these have been presented through film, both historically and in contemporary cinema.
www.respectfilmfest.com
Draíocht Halloween Festival21st – 31st OctoberA week long children's festival with events across West Belfast including the annual lantern parade and fireworks display at the Falls Park.
For more information go to:www.feilebelfast.com
Gaeltacht Quarter 10KHundreds of runners will take part in the annual Gaeltacht Quarter 10km.
Departing from An Chultúrlann runners make their way through the iconic streets and roads of West Belfast in what has been described as one of the best and challenging routes for a 10K in Belfast.
All registered runners receive:A time chip, a medal and a t-shirt.
To register contact: [email protected]
Golden Gloves Handball Tournament Nov 2019 TBAA monster weekend of top handball hosted by St Pauls GAC and across venues throughout West Belfast! The best players in the land - of all ages and abilities - set their compasses for west Belfast, where they are joined by a strong local contingent, too.
For more information go to:[email protected]
Fleadh Feirste 25th – 30th NovA vibrant cultural festival celebrating Belfast’s heritage as Ireland’s leading Irish language city. Enjoy traditional music, art exhibitions, poetry events and activities for children.
For more information go to:www.culturlann.ie
Christmas in West BelfastA magical time in West Belfast with our shopping centres playing host to Santa’s Grotto, and lots of family events, craft fairs and much more happen throughout the festive period?
For more information go to: www.visitwestbelfast.com
Tours & TrailsWest Belfast is known as a hotbed of political invention and a platform for social progress. The legacy of the recent conflict is a confident community that attracts interest from actors, writers, politicians and an ever increasing number of tourists from every continent. They come to see the political murals of West Belfast, hear the stories of people who lived through the conflict, visit An Chultúrlann and the Gaeltacht Quarter and take a walk to Divis and Black Mountain and the Gruffalo Trail of Colin Glen Forest Park.
We at Fáilte Feirste Thiar have developed a number of beneficial trails to help you on your discovery of west Belfast. Trails that will help you explore the rich cultural history of this wonderful part of the city. See below for the many trails available now at www.visitwestbelfast.com
Coiste ToursA unique walking tour delivered by former political prisoners who share their personal experiences of the British/Irish conflict
Coiste guides are republican ex-prisoners who take you on a journey through West Belfast’s murals and landmarks sharing their perspectives of the recent conflict.
Tours of the Falls Road depart from the Divis Tower every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10am and every Sunday at 2pm lasting approximately 3 hours.
www.Coiste.ie
TaxiTraxThe original Black Taxi service with a history of 40 + years. With Taxi Trax, you are guaranteed one of the most authentic taxi tours in Belfast. They boast some of the best tour guides in the city, and have a team of local people with local knowledge who have lived through the conflict years in Belfast.
They will guide you through sites of historical and political interest, explain the significance of the Belfast murals and share the secrets of key landmarks.
www.taxitrax.com
Gruffalo Trail Join the very clever mouse in Colin Glen Forest Park. Follow in his footsteps and meet the silly old fox, owl and snake on the way to an amazing eight foot tall Gruffalo, complete with knobbly knees, turned out toes and a poisonous wart on the end of his nose.
Each character has been magically recreated by sculptor Andrew McIntyre and set against the backdrop of the stunning forest park.
The trail takes approximately 45 minutes to get to The Gruffalo and back.
Slí na Gaeltachta TrailA heritage and cultural trail telling the intriguing journey of the Irish Language in Belfast from the City Centre along a two mile stretch of the Falls Road through a series of plaques.
Belfast 1916 Heritage TrailThis heritage trail uncovers the story and recognises the roles of many individuals from Belfast who played their part in organising one of the most historic events of the 20th century when a small group of Irish rebels took on the British Empire.
West Belfast Mural MapThe only publication of its kind in Belfast, the mural map provides visitors with a map of West Belfast and where all murals are located.
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
Located in he heart of the Gaeltacht Quarter of West Belfast An Chultúrlann is home to a range of different Irish language, artistic and cultural activities for everyone in the community. Irish language classes, art workshops, ceilidh, events for young people, concerts and art exhibitions all take place throughout the year.
Spend some time viewing one of our exhibitions in the Gerard Dillon gallery, call into An Ceathrú Póilí, a book and gift shop or try the delicious Bia Restaurant.
For more information including events go to:www.culturlann.ie
If you have an upcoming event and want to promote it with usPlease contact:
217 Falls Road,Belfast.
BT12 6FB+44 28 9024 1100
@FailteFeirste@visitwestbelfast FailteFeirste