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Derry’s leading community arts festival, Féile Derry, has launched its biggest ever programme of events which will feature music, family gatherings, award-winning films, discussions, sport, exhibitions, older people’s events and much more.

Mayor of Derry City & Strabane Ruairí McHugh officially launched this year’s programme which includes over 150 events taking place at 60 venues across the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, and Fountain neighbourhoods and the city centre. 

A Féile spokesperson said 2025 is one of the most exciting editions in the festival’s 33-year history.

“We’re delighted to launch our biggest programme of events for Féile 2025.

“This year’s line-up offers something for everyone, bringing families and neighbours together to celebrate what’s great about our communities and the city’s immense talent.

“One of Ireland’s great musicians, Martin Hayes, and local sensation SOAK will headline our music line-up alongside award-winning films, discussions, our biggest ever programme of family celebrations, and a wide range of events for all ages.

“There’s been a huge amount of work behind the scenes from our community partners and volunteers whose commitment make Féile a special event every year, and ensure the festival continues to grow stronger.  

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Féile 2025 as we mark 33 years of the festival – it’s a chance to come together and celebrate our neighbourhoods, our creativity, and what makes our communities great places to live, work, play and visit.”

Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Ruairí McHugh said:

“I’m really pleased to launch the biggest ever programme of Féile events in the city. It’s always a real highlight of the summer across the neighbourhood. 

“Féile continues to lead the way in bringing our communities together, creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect, celebrate, and look forward through arts, sports, family gatherings, music, discussions and more.

“This year’s line-up is really exciting and reflects the positive work that is happening right across the city to highlight everything that is good about our communities and the people who live in them.  

“Derry is a city bursting with endless talent, creativity, and energy, and events like Féile are crucial in showcasing that to the world, helping our city reach its full potential and thrive.

“I want to wish the team at Féile Derry every success for this year’s festival, and I hope everyone attending the events has a fantastic time.”

The full Féile programme of events is available now at www.feilederry.com/feile-2025

Féile 2025 would not be possible without the support of our 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 who have come together to shape this programme of events. 

Newly elected President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, will visit Derry in August to deliver the Donncha Mac Niallais Memorial Lecture as part of the Féile 2025.

The event will take place in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on Tuesday 12 August at 12.30pm.

Announcing the event, a Féile spokesperson said:

“We’re absolutely delighted that the President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, will deliver a lecture in memory of Donncha Mac Niallais during Féile 2025.

“It’s the first time that Ciarán will speak in Derry since becoming President of the island’s leading Irish language organisation, and we’re excited to welcome him to the city to remember Donncha and look at the future of the language across Ireland.

“Ciarán will also outline the current challenges facing Conradh na Gaeilge and the wider Irish language community in Ireland, north and south.

“Donncha Mac Niallais was a key figure in spearheading the growth of the Irish language, so this is a special moment – especially with the event taking place in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, a space he helped bring to life.

“It’s an exciting time as the language continues to thrive in the city, we’re seeing huge growth in the number of adults learning the language, while our local Gaelscoileanna are experiencing unprecedented demand for places.

“This growth is thanks in no small part to the work Donncha, along with others, put in over many years, playing a central role in building the Irish language movement in the city.

“As well as being a keen Gaeilgeoir, he was a community leader and someone who worked hard to bring people together. Through events like this, we want to keep his memory alive and have positive and constructive discussions on the future.

“This is an Irish language event that is open to every, and will include simultaneous translation into English for those who may need it. (DOES THIS READ OK??? Want to ensure people know this)

Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin is a long-standing activist for the Irish language and language rights. Originally from west Belfast, he has worked with Conradh na Gaeilge for almost two decades and played a leading role with Dream Dearg in the campaign for Acht Gaeilge and the North’s first ever Irish language legislation.

His recent election as President of Conradh na Gaeilge marks a new chapter for the movement and comes 30 years after the late Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, another towering figure in the language community, became the last Belfast native to hold the post.

The Donncha Mac Niallais Memorial Lecture takes place in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on Tuesday 12 August at 12.30pm, as part of Féile 2025. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. This is an Irish language event with a simultaneous translation into English.

The 2025 Féile programme can be viewed here:

www.feilederry.com/feile-2025

Féile 2025 has announced an exciting line-up of music for this August, featuring some of Ireland’s greatest musicians, including Martin Hayes and Piaras Ó Lorcáin, alongside Derry’s own SOAK and a range of emerging local talent.

With a mix of traditional, electronic and contemporary sounds, this year’s programme includes headline shows, intimate performances and workshops with young people.

Regarded as one of the most significant talents in Irish traditional music, fiddler Martin Hayes brings his unique sound to the historic St Columb’s Hall for an unforgettable night.

Hayes is known for his soulful interpretations of traditional Irish music and his ability to place the tradition within a wider contemporary context.

Over his career, he has collaborated with extraordinary musicians such as Dennis Cahill, Bill Frisell, and the RTE Concert Orchestra, and he is a founding member of The Gloaming, who won the Meteor Prize in 2014 for their debut album.

SOAK returns home for an intimate performance at Orchard Cinema, sharing their powerful indie sound that blends raw emotion with ethereal atmospheres. Opening the evening is George Houston, a genre-bending singer-songwriter from Donegal

Traditional music fans can also enjoy an evening at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin with sean-nós singer Piaras Ó Lorcáin and multi-instrumentalist Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, both known for their expressive vocals and strong ties to Irish musical traditions.

The Gathering, a one-day festival at Sandinos, features a mix of folk, trad and electronic acts including electronic producer Daithí, Americana-folk duo DUG, and Irish-Palestinian singer-songwriter Róisín El Cherif.

Young people can get involved in hip-hop workshops led by drill artist Sello and enjoy the Our Space Summer Music Showcase at the Nerve Centre, featuring local bands and special guests.

Advance tickets for all events are available now via Eventbrite.

Now in its 33rd year, Féile 2025 has launched its biggest ever programme of events this summer and will feature some of the island and the city’s greatest musical talent – alongside family celebrations, films, exhibitions and much more. You can view the full list of events at feilederry.com/feile-2025

Dublin GAA and Ballymun Kickhams legend Paddy Christie will join Féile 2025 for a special conversation on his historic journey with Ballymun Kickhams, taking place at Seán Dolans GAC in Creggan on Sunday 10th August. 

Known for his leadership on the pitch and his commitment to community off it, Paddy will share his story and reflect on the powerful role the GAA plays in shaping the lives of young people in areas like Ballymun and Creggan.

A true legend of the game, Paddy Christie was a key player for the Dublin senior football team from 1995 to 2007. He captained Dublin in 2005, won three Leinster titles, and earned an All-Star award in 2002.

Fiercely proud of his roots in Ballymun Kickhams, he has long championed the GAA’s role beyond sport – as a force for good.

Over two decades, Christie has played a central role in the revival of Ballymun Kickhams – a club rooted in a working-class area often overlooked by outsiders.

Faced with limited resources, he helped rebuild the club by investing in youth coaching, strengthening community ties, and instilling pride and belief in its players which led to the team making history.

Ballymun Kickhams is now recognised as an example of what the GAA means to communities across Ireland – not just winning trophies but in building resilience, leadership, and hope. Christie’s deep understanding of sport as a driver of change will resonate strongly in an area Creggan, where the GAA is more than a game.

Expect insight, honesty, and plenty of laughs as Paddy shares stories from his own journey and his perspective on how the GAA shapes Ireland’s social fabric.

This conversation is one of many highlights of Féile 2025’s biggest-ever programme, with hundreds of events taking place right across the city from 6th to 15th August – the full programme can be viewed at feilederry.com/feile-2025.

Paddy Christie in conversation: The GAA’s Social Fabric
Seán Dolans GAC, Creggan, Sunday 10 August, 6pm
Register here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-gaas-social-fabric-paddy-christie-from-ballymun-kickhams-tickets-1478041725589

Féile Derry and legendary dance festival Celtronic are teaming up to host a special summer party at Sandino’s on Friday August 15th with Optimo (Espacio).

Optimo (Espacio) are the duo JD Twitch and JG Wilkes who have become renowned around the world for their memorable and ecstatic deejay sets with a unique disregard for genres and musical restrictions in their craft, creating a nightclub experience that strikes out into territories far beyond the accepted boundaries of club music.

Their Glasgow nightclub Optimo (Espacio) at the Sub Club is widely regarded as one of the most important and ground-breaking clubs of the past two decades.

In July 2025, Optimo announced that Keith (JD Twitch) had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour. We are shocked and saddened to have heard the news regarding Keith’s diagnosis. Our upcoming event will go ahead as planned with Jonnie continuing to carry the Optimo (Espacio) torch with the same spirit and passion they’ve always embodied.

Advance tickets: £10/12 at http://bit.ly/4kHpHII

Central Drive: The faces. The places. The spaces.

This is the heart of Creggan. As part of our ‘People Make Central Drive’ exhibition, Féile spoke to those who live, work, study and grew up here about what makes this street so special.

📸 The exhibition, created in collaboration with artist Molly Keane, is still on display at Holy Child Primary School. A Communities in Transition project, funded by the Executive Office.

The Volunteer Investment Project (VIP) at Féile has been awarded the Volunteer Friendly Award in recognition of its ongoing commitment to supporting community volunteers.

The award acknowledges the years of work that have gone into valuing and supporting volunteers – especially the young people who play a major part in organising successful community events.

Speaking after receiving the award at the Guildhall today, Elaine Doherty, Project Manager of the Volunteer Investment Project (VIP) said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to get this award and the recognition that comes with it. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything – their energy, ideas and commitment are the backbone of successful community events.

“Our volunteers have put in thousands of hours supporting different community events, including supporting thousands of people at family gatherings and music events and a range of other events.  

“Working with Volunteer Investment Project has really been a life-changing experience for our young people, helping them to build their confidence, getting work and life experience and also achieving recognised qualifications.

“Volunteering is about stepping up, being part of something, and making your community the best possible place to live. There is no better time to get involved, no matter what age you are.”

The Volunteer Investment Project is currently recruiting volunteers, with opportunities to learn, access qualifications and make a difference – especially as another packed summer of Féile events gets underway in August 2025.

Children from Long Tower PS, Nazareth House PS, Fountain PS, Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir and St. Eugene’s PS recently took part in Made in Our City – My Shirt, My Story – a project exploring the history of the city’s shirt factories.

From the late 19th Century, Derry became a global centre for shirt-making and by the 1920s, the city was home to more than 40 factories, employing thousands of workers.

The factories were central to people’s daily lives, and their influence and legacy is still felt in many families across the city today.

Artist Caroline Devenney worked closely with the children, helping them to connect with the stories behind our city’s once thriving shirt-making industry and supporting them in creating their own textile-based artworks, while Deirdre Williams, an expert in the Shirt Factories, gave the children a real sense of the people who worked in the factories.

The fantastic pieces produced by the children are now part of Féile’s latest exhibition, currently on display at Abercorn Play Park, right next to the site of the old Tillie and Henderson shirt factory.

A big thank you to all the schools who took part – and to Caroline and Deirdre – for helping bring these important stories to life.

This project was part of Féile’s Connect:Interact:Create programme, supported by the Executive Office’s Central Good Relations Fund. 

‘Football at the Heart’ explores a remarkable footballing journey spanning over five decades in the Brandywell area of the city — a small housing estate, just half a mile in radius, that has produced some of Derry’s greatest sporting talents.

From the rise of Brandywell Harps, through the decline of local football, to the birth of Ballymoor FC and their long road home to the Daisy Field — a story shaped by community, dedication and a love of the game.

Now, football is back where it belongs — at the heart of the Brandywell.

A Communities in Transition project, funded by the Executive Office.

Féile’s ‘Lunch with a Laugh’ at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel was a huge success.

People from across the Bogside, Brandywell, Bishop Street and Fountain areas packed out the Bishop’s Gate Hotel for an amazing two course lunch, followed by a hilarious comedy set from one of the rising stars on the island’s comedy scene.

Paddy McDonnell, well-known for selling out venues across Britain and Ireland, recently completed a tour of Scotland and England—and he didn’t disappoint, leaving everyone in stitches.

A fantastic way to start off the week – with great food and great craic!

This event was part of Féile’s Connect:Interact:Create programme, supported by the Executive Office’s Central Good Relations Fund.