Féile an Phobail 2021 to go ahead

Féile an Phobail organisers are all guns blazing for a huge summer festival.

It's hoped the West Belfast arts festival will come back bigger than ever, after 400,000 people tuned into a virtual event last summer because of lockdown rules.

This year, the biggest community arts festival in Ireland returns for its 33rd year from 5th to 15th August, and Féile an Phobail Director Kevin Gamble is looking forward to what he believes will be another record breaking Féile.

Kevin said: "Féile 2021 is going to be the biggest and best summer Féile we have ever had.

"Last August’s Féile took place on a virtual basis due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we had an online audience in excess of 400,000 for our full programme of over 100 events.

“As soon as last August’s Féile ended, the Féile team began to plan for this year's festival and we have made major progress already.

“We have live music, drama, art exhibitions, debates and discussions, lectures, family events, sport and visual arts all lined up for you.

“This year is a particularly exciting one for Féile as we emerge from lockdown thanks to the ongoing vaccine rollout and the fantastic work done by our amazing NHS staff along with the leadership provided by the Executive.

"Féile an Phobail began in 1988 at a time of intense conflict and tragedy here in West Belfast.

"Who thought that 33 years later, we would have seen the scale of the growth of Féile that has occurred.

"We have a lot to thank the visionaries who founded Féile an Phobail for. They gave this community a light that shines brighter each year.

“From its outset, Féile has sought to display and showcase the positives of West Belfast and the incredible talent and creativity in this community.

“Féile has also worked hard to provide young people with alternatives away from bonfires and the trouble that occurred in August each year and we will continue to do that.

“Over the years, Féile has developed enormously and is now the biggest community festival in Ireland, with hundreds of events taking place throughout the course of the festival.

“This year we hope you can all join us, take part in person, enjoy, and celebrate the fantastic community that we have, subject to lifting of restrictions.

“We want to thank our community and Féile’s key stakeholders for continuing to support us as we navigate our path back to normality.

“We will soon be welcoming event proposal submissions and we will announce in advance when submissions are open for application. Proposals can include a wide range of events and activities, including music, drama, literary, youth, family, community, sports, visual arts and talks and debates.

“Let’s show the world why this is very much a Féile an Phobail - a festival of the people!

“Onwards and upwards!”