At long last, a filmed version of Féile’s latest stage production ‘City Til I Die’ will receive its online premiere on Wednesday 8th May at 7pm on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8MkRTPJ3Qd46qDwywlMRpw
‘City Til I Die’ examines what it means to be a Derry City supporter and how being a supporter enhances the lives of so many. The play celebrates the club’s history and the positive contribution the club and its fans make to the city.
The play features a cast that includes well known Derry actors Pat Lynch, Francis Harkin, Maureen Wilkinson, Jonathan Burgess, Conor Barr and Brian Hasson as well as debuts from Spasie McGilloway, Michael Doherty, Ruairi Campbell, Aisling Hutton and Harley Nixon!
A Communities In Transition project funded by The Executive Office.
On Monday April 29th at 7pm, on what would have been Stephen Gargan’s 63rd birthday, Féile will stream the film, ‘Stephen Gargan – There and Back Again’ on our youtube channel.
Stephen Gargan passed away on November 27th 2022. A grandfather, father, brother, son, partner, friend and activist, he is missed every day. Born in Dublin, Stephen was involved in community activism in Derry for many years. A founding member and former festival director of Gasyard Wall Féile, he also was a co-founder and director of Gaslight Media Trust. A leading campaigner for the Bloody Sunday families for many years, he co- produced the drama-documentary film ‘SUNDAY’. He also co-developed the ‘Epilogues’ and ‘Just Us’ Education Programme with Jim Keys. Until his untimely passing, he was a key member of the Bloody Sunday March Committee.
Féile Streets Alive Programme 2024 – Summary Video
Here’s a short video highlighting all the events we had the pleasure of working on during the month of March, including Trad Music Sessions, IWD events such as the Meenan Square Exhibition and an event celebrating Roisin Barton, Easter celebrations in the Fountain, storytelling in schools, the Anthony Hegarty 1km race, the easter bonnet parade and Celtronic Kids, as well as many more!
Thank you to everyone who helped make these events possible or took part!
Check out this film documenting a recent project as part of Féile’s Imagine Create programme where acclaimed musician Dafé worked with students from Holy Child Primary School and Nursery Unit and St. John’s Primary School, teaching various songwriting / rapping techniques!
A Communities In Transition project funded by The Executive Office.
FEILE DERRY’S EASTER BONNET PARADE. . . .The Feile Derry’s Easter Bonnet Parade makes its way towards Guildhall Square on Wednesday morning. Local schoolchildren took part in the parade from the Verbal Arts Centre, down the walls and into the square where the children received Easter eggs and refreshments. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)
Easter Bonnet Fun on the city’s walls during Wednesday’s Derry Feile event. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)
Pupils from St. Eugene’s PS pictured before taking part in Feile Derry’s Easter Bonnet Parade on Tuesday.
HOLD ON TO YOUR BONNETS!. . . .A windy day as the Long Tower PS primary fives get ready for the off at the Feile Derry’s Easter Bonnet Parade down the City’s Walls and into Guildhall Square on Wednesday morning last. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)
Pupils from Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir pictured before taking part in Feile Derry’s Easter Bonnet Parade on Tuesday.
Pupils from Nazareth House PS pictured before taking part in Feile Derry’s Easter Bonnet Parade on Tuesday.
EASTER BONNET PARADE!
Our parade of Primary 5 pupils from the Urban Village areas were led by In Your Space Circus from the Verbal Arts Centre, through the Derry Walls and down to the Guildhall to show off their fantastic own Easter Bonnets creations, which they all worked very hard on!
Every school put in such a great effort, especially getting up that big hill at the end! You should all be really proud of yourselves, and of course, congratulations to St Anne’s for being the school with the fastest time and to Jay Gallagher for completing the race with the fastest time of 3 minutes 17 seconds!
55 Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, Duatla Mc Guinness – 04:24
56 St Eugene’s PS, Shra Mc Elhinney – 04:26
57 Gaelscoil Eadain Choir, Seamus Gielty – 04:26
58 Holy Child PS, Katie Lee Taupe – 04:26
59 Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, Annie Doherty – 04:30
60 St Eugene’s PS, Daniel Odumukwu – 04:32
61 Longtower NS, Ava Mc Keever – 04:35
62 St Eugene’s PS, Ellie Mailey – 04:41
63 St Eugene’s PS, Rex Ogoko – 04:48
64 Longtower NS, Roise Mc Gowan – 04:50
65 Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, Fiachra Mc Monagle – 04:52
66 Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, Shea Ryan – 04:53
67 Holy Child PS, Odin Dentith – 04:56
68 Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, Ellidh Mc Gurk – 04:58
69 Holy Child PS, Finn Friel – 04:58
70 St Eugene’s PS, Mary Sulaiman – 05:09
71 Holy Child PS, Ava Mc Grory – 06:11
72 Holy Child PS, Faith Collins – 06:33
73 Holy Child PS, Lily Mc Donnell – 06:33
Thank you so much to everyone who participated and to our partners Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum for helping to make this happen. Big thank you as well to the Hegarty family and to Malcolm McCausland for telling us more about Anthony’s life and achievements.
Anthony Hegarty’s Story
Anton Hegarty was born on 14th December 1892 at 36 Nailors Row just below Derry’s walls, above the Bogside. A real running machine he was famous for racing a pony in the Brandywell over a mile. Some say he won the race, others disagreed.
Shortly after leaving school Anton joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. While stationed in India his talent at running came to the fore, but the start of the first World war put an abrupt end to athletics. In August 1915, Anton was badly wounded at Sulva bay in the battle for Gallipoli and was declared medically unfit for future service, and discharged from the Army.
Undaunted Anton was soon back in his spikes, and was instrumental in founding the famous City of Derry Harriers. In that year he won both Ulster Junior and Senior cross country titles with ease. In International cross-country tests he was the automatic choice for Ireland and always led the team home.
He was without doubt the greatest runner produced in Derry- his long stride and perfect carriage being the subject of universal admiration. He capped his career by appearing at the Olympic Games at Antwerp in 1920 where he was first man home for the British team, securing a silver medal, the first Derry man to do so.
Little is known of Anton’s career after 1920. He moved to Rugby in England. Anton was cycling to work in Rugby when he was knocked down and killed by an RAF lorry in August 1944.
Féile’s film about Anthony Hegarty, “Lion for A Day”, can be viewed at the link below:
Féile was delighted to partner with In Your Space Circus this week to deliver storytelling in schools as part of World Storytelling Day which took place on Wednesday 20th March.
5 schools from the Urban Village area were lucky enough to receive a visit from Granny D and her little friend Steve (and her bubbles!)
As part of our Equinox project, acclaimed photographer Megan Doherty worked with local schools, sports clubs, youth clubs and community groups to create a new exhibition, Genesis, which celebrates many of the great young people of Creggan.
