Belfast to host oldest Irish language arts festival in 2025

Belfast has been chosen to host the oldest Irish language and arts festival on the island of Ireland.

Oireachtas na Samhna (The November Gathering), celebrates Irish language, arts and traditions with a packed timetable of events - all delivered in Gaelic - including debates, film screenings, workshops and awards.

Held annually each autumn, this year’s gathering is taking place in Co Kerry, but Belfast’s bid to host the festival in 2025 has been successful.

The event will see up to 10,000 expected participants in the city from October 29 to November 2 next year

The festival was first held in Dublin in 1897, and 12 years later saw the premiere performance of the first opera written in the Irish language, Eithne*.*

Belfast last hosted the festival in 1997, and the last time it was held north of the border was in 2006 when Derry was the host city.

Belfast’s securing of the event followed collaboration between Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities, tourism bodies and Irish language groups including Conradh na Gaeilge.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Sinn Féin’s Ryan Murphy said: “Belfast has a thriving Irish language community, and its role within our rich and diverse cultural heritage was central to securing this major event for our city.

“As a council, we are committed to celebrating the cultural significance of language, including Irish, to communities and highlighting the importance of ensuring languages are used, and nurtured, for both present and future generations.

• “Bringing Oireachtas na Samhna to Belfast will, I believe, will create a lasting legacy for the generations of young Irish speakers to come, and act as a platform to showcase the many benefits that celebrating language can bring – creating vibrancy, fostering learning and forging new friendships.”

A programme of events is currently being developed, and a team of Irish-speaking volunteers will also be recruited early next year to support visitors during their stay in Belfast.

The festival is organised by An tOireachtas, and chief executive Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha said of Belfast: “The quality of the venues and accommodation in the city is second to none; the support for large arts and culture events is progressive and far-sighted and we acknowledge the meticulous attention to detail of councillors and officials in ensuring the success of the bid.

“It is over quarter of a century ago since the festival last visited the city of Belfast and we look forward to a very successful, vibrant Oireachtas Festival by the banks of the Lagan in 2025.”