Féile an Fhómhair 2024, Carlow’s popular autumn bilingual festival, has an amazing programme of events lined up. Organised by Glór Cheatharlach and running from 27 September to 6 October, the festival celebrates all things environmental and autumnal ‘as Gaeilge agus as Béarla’. There’s music and song, sean-nós dance classes and workshops, bilingual table quizzes galore, an Irish language film, the schools’ art competition as well as set dancing and autumn walking weekends. There are walks and talks and lots of opportunities to speak Irish including Comhrá @ Lamberts on Wednesdays and other everyday settings.
Féile an Fhómhair will kick off on Friday morning, 27 September with Tráth na gCeist/Table Quiz for post primary schools to take place at 10am in Éire Óg Clubhouse. Later that evening, Setanta Ceatharlach, Club Iománaíochta & Camógaíochta will host a table quiz ‘as Gaeilge’ in Presentation College for the club’s Under 12, U14 and U16 members.
The Seven Oaks Hotel is the place to be on the opening weekend of Féile an Fhómhair when dancing enthusiasts from Donegal to Tipperary and Galway to Wexford will travel to Carlow to enjoy a feast of set dancing at the Carlow Set Dancing Weekend running from Friday to Sunday, 27-29 September with workshops each day and a Céilí Mór each night and dancing to such well known outfits as the Abbey, the Brian Boru and the John Reidy Céilí Bands. Beginners as well as seasoned dancers are all welcome to the event. There will be set dancing classes with Syl & Liz on Saturday and Sunday mornings while a free Sean-Nós workshop will be given by champion dancer Irene Cunningham on the Saturday at 12.30pm and this will be followed by social dancing to Teresa & The Stars on the Saturday afternoon.
Events galore for young people
Young people are invited to take part in the many events being planned for them during the festival.
As well as three table quizzes there will be a trip to the cinema with Glór Cheatharlach in association with IMC Cinema @ Fairgreen securing exclusive screenings of the award-winning Irish language film “Róise agus Frank”. Suitable for primary school pupils in 5th and 6th classes as well as for post primary students, the film with subtitles will be screened at IMC Cinema at 11am on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, 2nd and 3rd October. School bookings must be secured in advance with Glór Cheatharlach.
Meanwhile, pupils in 3rd and 4th Classes will get the opportunity to learn some basic Sean-Nós steps when champion dancer Irene Cunningham sponsored by Conradh na Gaeilge will visit a total of six primary schools as part of this year’s Féile an Fhómhair offering. The ever-popular autumn art competition for primary schools will run throughout the festival when pupils in 1st to 6th classes are invited to create a painting or artwork on the theme of An Fómhar and prizes will be awarded to the best efforts in each class category.
Concert for Co Carlow Hospice & Autumn Walking Weekend
An autumn concert in the GB Shaw Theatre @ Visual on Saturday, 5th October will feature a variety of local talent including Mary Darcy, Nicky Kealy, Carlow Community Choir, Carlow Ukulele Players, John Candy, The Duettes, Holly Harmon as well as baritone Maksym Lozovyi from Ukraine. Musical Director is Ollie Hennessy with proceeds going to County Carow Hospice.
The second weekend of Féile an Fhómhair will focus on the great outdoors with a total of sixteen walks organised by Carlow Tourism. Walkers, both seasoned and those not so experienced, will enjoy the popular Autumn Walking Weekend which will feature a whole raft of talks, walks and hikes taking place over the three days.
There are events to suit varying levels of ability but the leisurely bilingual Sunday afternoon walk along the Barrow Track from Milford to Carlow on Sunday, 6 October at 2pm will be particularly suitable for those new to the walking scene. A courtesy bus will depart from the Liberty Tree at 1.30pm to the start point. There’s no charge but advance booking to 059 9130411, 087 2857048 or info@carlowtourism.com
This year’s Féile an Fhómhair festival really has an amazing range of events. The full festival programme is available from Glór Cheatharlach and on facebook.com/glor.cheatharlach while printed copies of the brochure can be picked up at Carlow Library, Carlow Tourism, Lamberts Coffee House and Visual.
Bí páirteach agus bain taitneamh as Féile an Fhómhair ‘24.
Enquiries to 087 2857048, 085 1340047 or email emma@glorcheatharlach.ie