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{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{infobox music festival |
{{infobox music festival |
| music_festival_name = Féile an Phobail
| music_festival_name = Féile an Phobail
| image = [[Image:Feile an Phobail.jpg|250px]]
| image = [[Image:Feile an Phobail.jpg|250px]]
| location = [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| location = [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland
| founders = [[Siobhán O'Hanlon]]<br/>[[Gerry Adams|Gerry Adams MP]]<br/>[[Danny Morrison (writer)|Danny Morrison]] <!-- Can someone expand this? -->
| founders = Gerry Adams MP, Danny Morrison | years_active= 1988–Present
⚫
| dates = Various (see [[#Festivals]])
| years_active= 1988-Present
⚫
| genre = '''Music'''<br/>[[Irish traditional music]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[indie rock]], [[World music|world]], [[Folk music|folk]], [[Ska music|ska]]<br/><br/>'''Other'''<br/>[[Debate]], [[Irish dancing]], [[Irish literature]], humanitarianism
⚫
| dates = Various (see [[Féile#Festivals]])
⚫
| genre = '''Music'''<br/>[[Irish traditional music]], [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Indie rock]], [[World music|World]], [[Folk music|Folk]], [[Ska music|Ska]]<br/><br/>'''Other'''<br/>[[Debate]], [[Irish dancing]], [[Irish literature]], [[Humanitarianism]]
| website = ''[http://www.feilebelfast.com Official website]''
| website = ''[http://www.feilebelfast.com Official website]''
}}
}}


'''Féile an Phobail''' ({{lang-en|The Community's Festival}}), also known as the '''West Belfast Festival''' is a community arts organisation known for its ''August Féile'' (Festival). The organisation is prominent for its promotion of [[Culture of Ireland|Irish]] and international culture. The festival takes place on and around [[Falls Road (Belfast)|Falls Road]] in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]].<ref name="20Years">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/feile/index.shtml BBC Programme - Féile an Phobail] - 20 Years On</ref><ref name="CultureNI01">[http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=1469 Féile is back] - CultureNorthernIreland.org</ref><ref name="Official06">[http://www.feilebelfast.com Féile an Phobail] - Official website</ref>
'''Féile an Phobail''' (''The Community's Festival''), also known as the '''West Belfast Festival''' is a community arts organisation known for its ''August Féile'' (Festival). The organisation is prominent for its promotion of [[Culture of Ireland|Irish]] and international culture. The festival takes place on and around [[Falls Road (Belfast)|Falls Road]] in [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland.<ref name="20Years">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/feile/index.shtml BBC Programme – Féile an Phobail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102183925/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/feile/index.shtml |date=2 January 2009 }} – 20 Years On</ref><ref name="CultureNI01">[http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=1469 Féile is back] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213233933/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=1469 |date=13 February 2012 }} – CultureNorthernIreland.org</ref><ref name="Official06">[http://www.feilebelfast.com Féile an Phobail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110123614/http://www.feilebelfast.com/ |date=10 January 2010 }} – Official website</ref>


== History ==
== History ==

=== Foundations ===
=== Foundations ===
The festival was established in 1988 as a direct response to [[The Troubles]] in [[Northern Ireland]], and specifically after the events of March 1988 when the [[Special Air Service|SAS]] [[Operation Flavius|killed]] three [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|PIRA]] members<ref>http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=695820&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649</ref> in [[Gibraltar]]. At one of the funerals of the three, two British servicemen were killed when their car stalled near the cortege. The community of west Belfast fell victim to intense media scrutiny and was described by the [[BBC]] as a ''terrorist community''.<ref name="20Years" /><ref name="AdamsInterview">[http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/pageacc.asp&path_info=/pageacc.asp&tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=364337 The Irish News]</ref>
The festival was established in 1988 as a direct response to [[the Troubles]], and specifically after the events of March 1988. The [[Special Air Service]] [[Operation Flavius|killed]] three [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] members<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=695820&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649|title=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=31 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531215824/http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=695820&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Gibraltar]]. At one of the funerals of the three, an [[Ulster loyalist]] paramilitary attacked the funeral with grenades and pistols, killing three mourners (see [[Milltown Cemetery attack]]). At the funeral of one of the mourners, two plainclothes British servicemen were killed when they drove into a funeral procession (see [[Corporals killings]]). The community of west Belfast came under intense media scrutiny and was described by the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]] as a "terrorist community".<ref name="20Years" /><ref name="AdamsInterview">{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/pageacc.asp&path_info=/pageacc.asp&tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=364337|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200507/http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=%2Fpageacc.asp&path_info=%2Fpageacc.asp&tser1=ser&par=ben&sid=364337|url-status=dead|title=The Irish News|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref>


Seeing this portrayal of their community as negative, misleading and damaging, [[Gerry Adams]] gathered a small amount of friends and various local groups to organise a community festival. Its purpose was to celebrate the positive side of the community: its creativity, its energy, its passion for the arts and for sport. ''The Féile'' was, and is, aimed at providing events and entertainment at a price that the majority of the community could afford.<ref name="20Years" /><ref name="CityRocks12">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4729141.stm City Rocks During Festival] - BBC NI</ref>
Seeing this portrayal of his community as negative, misleading and damaging, [[Gerry Adams]] gathered a small amount of friends and various local groups to organise a community festival. Its purpose was to celebrate the positive side of the community: its creativity, its energy, its passion for the arts and for sport. The ''Féile'' was, and is, aimed at providing events and entertainment at a price that the majority of the community could afford.<ref name="20Years" /><ref name="CityRocks12">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4729141.stm City Rocks During Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220174220/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4729141.stm |date=20 February 2006 }} – BBC NI</ref>


In August 1988 the first festival opened with a relatively humble parade of floats and bands and [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] clubs walking in their club regalia to an open-air party in [[Dunville Park]]. Street parties were organised throughout the west of the city. Door-to-door collections were made to fund day trips to the seaside for pensioners and outings for young people.<ref name="CityRocks12" />
In August 1988 the first festival opened with a relatively humble parade of floats and bands and [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] clubs walking in their club regalia to an open-air party in [[Dunville Park]]. Street parties were organised throughout the west of the city. Door-to-door collections were made to fund day trips to the seaside for pensioners and outings for young people.<ref name="CityRocks12" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Feile Belfast History |url=http://www.feilebelfasthistory.com/ |website=Feile Belfast History |access-date=16 February 2020 |archive-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915165521/http://feilebelfasthistory.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Present ===
=== Present ===
Féile an Phobail has garnered resounding praise and has grown to one of the largest community festivals in Europe.<ref name="BBC">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/feile/index.shtml Féile an Phobail: 20 Years On] - [[BBC]]</ref> The carnival parade routinely brings together over 20,000 participants for a colourful, musical procession with specially-designed floats representing a chosen theme, dancers and children in costume and face-masks.<ref name="Relations54">[http://www.community-relations.org.uk/services/community-relations-groups/?alpha=F Community Relations Organisation]</ref>
Féile an Phobail has garnered resounding praise and has grown to one of the largest community festivals in Europe.<ref name="BBC">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/feile/index.shtml Féile an Phobail: 20 Years On] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102183925/http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/feile/index.shtml |date=2 January 2009 }} – [[BBC]]</ref> The carnival parade routinely brings together over 20,000 participants for a colourful, musical procession with specially-designed floats representing a chosen theme, dancers and children in costume and face-masks.<ref name="Relations54">{{Cite web|url=http://www.community-relations.org.uk/services/community-relations-groups/?alpha=F|title=Community Relations Organisation|access-date=6 February 2009|archive-date=13 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013154557/http://www.community-relations.org.uk/services/community-relations-groups/?alpha=F|url-status=live}}</ref>

⚫
It has grown from a one-week festival to a year-round programme with many events. It established the first ever children's arts festival in Northern Ireland,<ref name="Inquiry">[http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/culture/reports/report1-01r_vol3D.htm Inquiry into Cultural Tourism and the Arts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218101529/http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/culture/reports/report1-01r_vol3D.htm |date=18 February 2010 }} – [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]</ref> the ''Draíocht Children's Arts Festival'', with activities ranging from sports to multi-cultural and educational events through both [[Irish language|Irish]] and English. In 2003, 6,000 children and young people participated in Draíocht events.<ref name="Phoblacht346">{{Cite web|url=https://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/25358|title=News &#124; An Phoblacht|website=www.anphoblacht.com|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-date=21 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821013616/https://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/25358|url-status=live}}</ref>


⚫
The festival also has its own radio station, [[Féile FM]]. The station initially broadcast across Belfast for two one-month periods in the spring and summer, during which young volunteers were professionally trained in media and management skills for free. In 2007, the radio was successful in securing a full-time licence, and now broadcasts seven days a week, throughout Belfast. Some trainees have gone on to find employment in the local media, including [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]], [[BBC Northern Ireland]] and [[The Irish News|Irish News Online]] in Belfast.<ref name="FeileFM">[http://www.feilefm.com/about.php Féile FM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125103639/http://feilefm.com/about.php |date=25 January 2009 }} – History</ref>
⚫
It has grown from a one-week festival to a year-round programme with many events. It established the first ever children's arts festival in Northern Ireland,<ref name="Inquiry">[http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/culture/reports/report1-01r_vol3D.htm Inquiry into Cultural Tourism and the Arts] - [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]</ref> the ''Draíocht Children's Arts Festival'', with activities ranging from sports to multi-cultural and educational events through both [[Irish language|Irish]] and English. In 2003 alone, 6000 children and young people participated in Draíocht events.<ref name="Phoblacht346">[http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/25358 An Phoblacht - Draíocht]</ref>


⚫
In May 2009, Féile an Phobail launched Belfast's first dedicated comedy festival, ''Laugh at the Bank''.<ref name="NewsSite">{{Cite web |url=http://www.feilebelfast.com/newsroom/29-04-2009/laugh-at-the-bank-comedy-festival/ |title=Laugh at the Bank Comedy Festival |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707025121/http://www.feilebelfast.com/newsroom/29-04-2009/laugh-at-the-bank-comedy-festival/ |archive-date=7 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
⚫
The festival also has its own radio station, [[Féile FM]]. The station initially broadcast across Belfast for two one-month periods in the spring and summer, during which young volunteers are professionally trained in media and management skills for free. In 2007, the radio was successful in securing a full-time licence, and now broadcasts 7 days a week, throughout Belfast. Some of trainees have gone on to find employment in the local media, including [[UTV]], [[BBC Northern Ireland]] and [[The Irish News|Irish News Online]] in Belfast.<ref name="FeileFM">[http://www.feilefm.com/about.php Féile FM] - History</ref>


During the August 15, 2021 event, [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]] councilors called for public funding to be stopped due to pro-IRA chanting during [[The Wolfe Tones]] performance.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Feile an Phobail 'pro-IRA' chanting prompts DUP's Brian Kingston to call on public money to be withdrawn from event|language=en-GB|work=belfasttelegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/feile-pro-ira-chanting-prompts-unionist-councillor-to-call-on-public-money-to-be-withdrawn-from-event-40756634.html|access-date=2021-08-16|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=16 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816155144/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/feile-pro-ira-chanting-prompts-unionist-councillor-to-call-on-public-money-to-be-withdrawn-from-event-40756634.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
In May 2009, Féile an Phobail launched Belfast's first dedicated comedy festival, ''Laugh at the Bank''.<ref name="NewsSite">[http://www.feilebelfast.com/newsroom/29-04-2009/laugh-at-the-bank-comedy-festival/ Laugh at the Bank Comedy Festival]</ref>


=== Festivals ===
=== Festivals ===
Féile an Phobail runs numerous festivals throughout the year. Among the festivals are:
Féile an Phobail runs numerous festivals throughout the year. Among the festivals are:


* '''[[August Féile]]''' - oldest project. Among Europe's largest community festivals, runs in August
* '''[[August Féile]]''' (Féile Lúnasa) – oldest project. Among Europe's largest community festivals, runs in August
* '''[[Féile an Earraigh]]''' - Springtime Irish traditional music festival
* '''[[Féile an Earraigh]]''' – Springtime Irish traditional music festival
* '''[[Draíocht]]''' - annual children's festival beginning in mid-October
* '''Draíocht''' – annual children's festival beginning in mid-October
* '''[[Stand up in the West]]''' - monthly comedy night in Belfast's Western Bar, no longer running
* '''[[Stand up in the West]]''' – monthly comedy night in Belfast's Western Bar, no longer running
* '''[[Laugh at the Bank]]''' - Belfast's first comedy festival. Launched May 2009
* '''[[Laugh at the Bank]]''' – Belfast's first comedy festival. Launched May 2009


== Performers ==
== Performers ==
Féile an Phobail has rostered national and international acts to perform with local musicians, catering for all tastes in dancing and music: from [[Irish traditional music]] to [[world music]] and [[Popular music|pop]]. Notable acts include the [[Altan (band)|Altan]], [[Brian Kennedy (singer)|Brian Kennedy]], [[Mary Black]], the [[Afro-Cuban All Stars]], the [[Harlem Gospel Choir]], [[Westlife]] and [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]].
Féile an Phobail has rostered national and international acts to perform with local musicians, catering for all tastes in dancing and music: from [[Irish traditional music]] to [[world music]] and [[Popular music|pop]]. Notable acts include [[Altan (band)|Altan]], [[Brian Kennedy (singer)|Brian Kennedy]], [[Mary Black]], the [[Afro-Cuban All Stars]], the [[Harlem Gospel Choir]], [[Westlife]] and [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]].


Local poets and writers have read their works on the same podium as renowned authors such as [[Patrick Mc Cabe]], [[Roddy Doyle]] and [[Evelyn Conlon]]. The festival has hosted the works of Ireland's leading playwrights and theatre companies, and has been the launching pad for world premiers, such as [[Frank McGuinness]]'s ''Someone Who'll Watch Over Me'' and [[Marie Jones]]' ''A Night in November'' by [[Dubbeljoint Productions]].
Local poets and writers have read their works on the same podium as renowned authors such as [[Patrick Mc Cabe]], [[Roddy Doyle]] and [[Evelyn Conlon]]. The festival has hosted the works of Ireland's leading playwrights and theatre companies, and has been the launching pad for world premiers, such as [[Frank McGuinness]]'s ''Someone Who'll Watch Over Me'' and [[Marie Jones]]' ''A Night in November'' by [[Dubbeljoint Productions]].
Line 52: Line 56:
|-
|-
!Artists
!Artists
!
!
!Speakers
!Speakers
!
!Comedians
!Comedians
|-
|-
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|[[Hothouse Flowers]]
|[[Hothouse Flowers]]
|[[The Exonerated|Sunny Jacobs]]
|[[The Exonerated|Sunny Jacobs]]
|
|[[Ardal O'Hanlon]]
|[[Ardal O'Hanlon]]
|-
|-
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|[[Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club]]
|[[Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club]]
|[[Gerry Adams]]
|[[Gerry Adams]]
|
|[[PJ Gallagher (comedian)|PJ Gallagher]]
|[[PJ Gallagher (comedian)|PJ Gallagher]]
|-
|-
|[[Atomic Kitten]]
|[[Atomic Kitten]]
|[[Bell X1]]
|[[Kaiser Chiefs]]
|[[Danny Morrison (writer)|Danny Morrison]]
|[[Danny Morrison (writer)|Danny Morrison]]
|
|[[Sean Hughes (comedian)|Sean Hughes]]
|[[Sean Hughes (comedian)|Sean Hughes]]
|-
|-
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|[[Mundy]]
|[[Mundy]]
|[[Gregory Campbell (politician)|Gregory Campbell]]
|[[Gregory Campbell (politician)|Gregory Campbell]]
|
|[[Tim McGarry]]
|[[Tim McGarry]]
|-
|-
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|[[Duke Special]]
|[[Duke Special]]
|[[Alex Maskey]]
|[[Alex Maskey]]
|
|[[Pauline McLynn]]
|[[Pauline McLynn]]
|-
|-
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|[[The Proclaimers]]
|[[The Proclaimers]]
|[[Edwin Poots]]
|[[Edwin Poots]]
|
|[[Alexei Sayle]]
|[[Alexei Sayle]]
|-
|-
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|[[Damien Dempsey]]
|[[Damien Dempsey]]
|[[Caitríona Ruane]]
|[[Caitríona Ruane]]
|
|[[Mark Steel]]
|[[Mark Steel]]
|-
|-
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|[[Luka Bloom]]
|[[Luka Bloom]]
|[[Jeffrey Donaldson]]
|[[Jeffrey Donaldson]]
|
|[[Neil Delamere]]
|[[Neil Delamere]]
|-
|-
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|[[Javine Hylton|Javine]]
|[[Javine Hylton|Javine]]
|[[Ulster Defence Association|Billy McQuiston]]
|[[Ulster Defence Association|Billy McQuiston]]
|
|[[Karl Spain]]
|[[Karl Spain]]
|-
|-
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|[[Blazin' Squad]]
|[[Blazin' Squad]]
|[[Dawn Purvis]]
|[[Dawn Purvis]]
|
|[[Paul Tonkinson]]
|[[Paul Tonkinson]]
|-
|-
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|[[Afro Celt Sound System]]
|[[Afro Celt Sound System]]
|[[Martin McGuinness]]
|[[Martin McGuinness]]
|
|[[Lenny Henry]]
|[[Lenny Henry]]
|-
|-
|[[At First Light]]
|[[At First Light (band)|At First Light]]
|[[The Gangsters]]
|[[The Gangsters]]
|[[The Folks on the Hill|Sean Crummey]]
|[[The Folks on the Hill|Sean Crummey]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Atomic Kitten]]
|[[Frances Black]]
|[[Gráda]]
|[[Gráda]]
|[[William Crawley]]
|[[William Crawley]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Frances Black]]
|[[Kieran Goss]]
|[[Samantha Mumba]]
|[[Samantha Mumba]]
|[[Mary McAleese]]
|[[Mary McAleese]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
⚫
|[[Brian Kennedy (singer)|Brian Kennedy]]
|[[Kieran Goss]]
|[[Christy Moore]]
|[[Christy Moore]]
|[[Love Music Hate Racism]]
|[[Love Music Hate Racism]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Neil Hannon]]
⚫
|[[Brian Kennedy (singer)|Brian Kennedy]]
|[[Austin Drage]]
|[[Austin Drage]]
|[[Robert Fisk]]
|[[Robert Fisk]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Neil Hannon]]
|[[Penguin Cafe Orchestra]]
|[[Chumbawamba]]
|[[Chumbawamba]]
|[[Ian Paisley, Jr.]]
|[[Ian Paisley, Jr.]]
|
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Penguin Cafe Orchestra]]
|[[Peatbog Faeries]]
|[[Peatbog Faeries]]
|
|[[Seamus Heaney]]
|[[Seamus Heaney]]
|
|
|-
|
|
|[[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|
|
|
|}
|}

<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pierse |first1=Michael |title=Féile Voices at 30: Memoirs of West Belfast community festival, Féile an Phobail |date=2018 |publisher=Orpen Press}}</ref>


=== Other ===
=== Other ===
Féile an Phobail has also been host to notable artists and painters from Ireland and abroad and hosts a festival-long exhibition in [[St. Mary's University College (Belfast)|St. Mary's University College]]. Other community exhibitions take place around west Belfast, organised by community groups in association with the August Féile.
Féile an Phobail has hosted notable artists and painters{{who?|date=June 2023}} from Ireland and abroad and hosts a festival-long exhibition in [[St. Mary's University College (Belfast)|St. Mary's University College]]. Other community exhibitions take place around West Belfast, organised by community groups in association with the August Féile.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 154: Line 185:


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{official|http://www.feilebelfast.com/}}
* {{official website|http://www.feilebelfast.com/}}
⚫
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fsmsw 20 Years On] – BBC documentary about Féile an Phobail
* [http://www.twitter.com/feilebelfast Official Twitter page]
* [http://www.facebook.com/feilebelfast Official Facebook page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/feilebelfast Official MySpace profile]
* [http://www.flickr.com/feilebelfast Official Flickr account]
⚫
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fsmsw 20 Years On] - BBC documentary about Féile an Phobail


{{Féile an Phobail}}
{{Féile an Phobail}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Feile An Phobail}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Feile An Phobail}}
[[Category:Culture in Belfast]]
[[Category:Festivals in Belfast]]
[[Category:Arts festivals in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Arts festivals in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in County Antrim]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in County Antrim]]
[[Category:Irish comedy and humour]]
[[Category:Comedy in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Children's festivals]]
[[Category:Children's festivals in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Tourism in County Antrim]]
[[Category:Tourism in County Antrim]]
[[Category:Articles containing Irish language text]]
[[Category:Articles containing Scottish Gaelic language text]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Northern Ireland]]

Latest revision as of 22:27, 24 August 2024

Féile an Phobail
GenreMusic
Irish traditional music, rock, indie rock, world, folk, ska

Other
Debate, Irish dancing, Irish literature, humanitarianism
DatesVarious (see #Festivals)
Location(s)Belfast, Northern Ireland
Years active1988–Present
FoundersGerry Adams MP, Danny Morrison
WebsiteOfficial website

Féile an Phobail (The Community's Festival), also known as the West Belfast Festival is a community arts organisation known for its August Féile (Festival). The organisation is prominent for its promotion of Irish and international culture. The festival takes place on and around Falls Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[1][2][3]

History

[edit]

Foundations

[edit]

The festival was established in 1988 as a direct response to the Troubles, and specifically after the events of March 1988. The Special Air Service killed three Provisional Irish Republican Army members[4] in Gibraltar. At one of the funerals of the three, an Ulster loyalist paramilitary attacked the funeral with grenades and pistols, killing three mourners (see Milltown Cemetery attack). At the funeral of one of the mourners, two plainclothes British servicemen were killed when they drove into a funeral procession (see Corporals killings). The community of west Belfast came under intense media scrutiny and was described by the British Broadcasting Corporation as a "terrorist community".[1][5]

Seeing this portrayal of his community as negative, misleading and damaging, Gerry Adams gathered a small amount of friends and various local groups to organise a community festival. Its purpose was to celebrate the positive side of the community: its creativity, its energy, its passion for the arts and for sport. The Féile was, and is, aimed at providing events and entertainment at a price that the majority of the community could afford.[1][6]

In August 1988 the first festival opened with a relatively humble parade of floats and bands and Gaelic Athletic Association clubs walking in their club regalia to an open-air party in Dunville Park. Street parties were organised throughout the west of the city. Door-to-door collections were made to fund day trips to the seaside for pensioners and outings for young people.[6][7]

Present

[edit]

Féile an Phobail has garnered resounding praise and has grown to one of the largest community festivals in Europe.[8] The carnival parade routinely brings together over 20,000 participants for a colourful, musical procession with specially-designed floats representing a chosen theme, dancers and children in costume and face-masks.[9]

It has grown from a one-week festival to a year-round programme with many events. It established the first ever children's arts festival in Northern Ireland,[10] the Draíocht Children's Arts Festival, with activities ranging from sports to multi-cultural and educational events through both Irish and English. In 2003, 6,000 children and young people participated in Draíocht events.[11]

The festival also has its own radio station, Féile FM. The station initially broadcast across Belfast for two one-month periods in the spring and summer, during which young volunteers were professionally trained in media and management skills for free. In 2007, the radio was successful in securing a full-time licence, and now broadcasts seven days a week, throughout Belfast. Some trainees have gone on to find employment in the local media, including UTV, BBC Northern Ireland and Irish News Online in Belfast.[12]

In May 2009, Féile an Phobail launched Belfast's first dedicated comedy festival, Laugh at the Bank.[13]

During the August 15, 2021 event, DUP councilors called for public funding to be stopped due to pro-IRA chanting during The Wolfe Tones performance.[14]

Festivals

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Féile an Phobail runs numerous festivals throughout the year. Among the festivals are:

  • August Féile (Féile Lúnasa) – oldest project. Among Europe's largest community festivals, runs in August
  • Féile an Earraigh – Springtime Irish traditional music festival
  • Draíocht – annual children's festival beginning in mid-October
  • Stand up in the West – monthly comedy night in Belfast's Western Bar, no longer running
  • Laugh at the Bank – Belfast's first comedy festival. Launched May 2009

Performers

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Féile an Phobail has rostered national and international acts to perform with local musicians, catering for all tastes in dancing and music: from Irish traditional music to world music and pop. Notable acts include Altan, Brian Kennedy, Mary Black, the Afro-Cuban All Stars, the Harlem Gospel Choir, Westlife and Status Quo.

Local poets and writers have read their works on the same podium as renowned authors such as Patrick Mc Cabe, Roddy Doyle and Evelyn Conlon. The festival has hosted the works of Ireland's leading playwrights and theatre companies, and has been the launching pad for world premiers, such as Frank McGuinness's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and Marie Jones' A Night in November by Dubbeljoint Productions.

The discussion and debates have included talks by world-class journalists and documentary makers including Robert Fisk (The Independent), Michael Moore (Oscar Winner) and have witnessed Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on the same panel as Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin) at the annual West Belfast Talks Back.

List of notable performers/speakers

[edit]
Artists Speakers Comedians
Westlife Hothouse Flowers Sunny Jacobs Ardal O'Hanlon
Girls Aloud Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club Gerry Adams PJ Gallagher
Atomic Kitten Kaiser Chiefs Danny Morrison Sean Hughes
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Mundy Gregory Campbell Tim McGarry
Mary Black Duke Special Alex Maskey Pauline McLynn
Harlem Gospel Choir The Proclaimers Edwin Poots Alexei Sayle
Altan Damien Dempsey Caitríona Ruane Mark Steel
Status Quo Luka Bloom Jeffrey Donaldson Neil Delamere
Afro-Cuban All Stars Javine Billy McQuiston Karl Spain
Hazel O'Connor Blazin' Squad Dawn Purvis Paul Tonkinson
Lúnasa Afro Celt Sound System Martin McGuinness Lenny Henry
At First Light The Gangsters Sean Crummey
Frances Black Gráda William Crawley
Kieran Goss Samantha Mumba Mary McAleese
Brian Kennedy Christy Moore Love Music Hate Racism
Neil Hannon Austin Drage Robert Fisk
Penguin Cafe Orchestra Chumbawamba Ian Paisley, Jr.
Peatbog Faeries Seamus Heaney
Jeremy Corbyn

[15]

Other

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Féile an Phobail has hosted notable artists and painters[who?] from Ireland and abroad and hosts a festival-long exhibition in St. Mary's University College. Other community exhibitions take place around West Belfast, organised by community groups in association with the August Féile.

References

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  1. ^ a b c BBC Programme – Féile an Phobail Archived 2 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine – 20 Years On
  2. ^ Féile is back Archived 13 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine – CultureNorthernIreland.org
  3. ^ Féile an Phobail Archived 10 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine – Official website
  4. ^ "HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights". Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  5. ^ "The Irish News". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  6. ^ a b City Rocks During Festival Archived 20 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine – BBC NI
  7. ^ "Feile Belfast History". Feile Belfast History. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  8. ^ Féile an Phobail: 20 Years On Archived 2 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine – BBC
  9. ^ "Community Relations Organisation". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  10. ^ Inquiry into Cultural Tourism and the Arts Archived 18 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine – Northern Ireland Assembly
  11. ^ "News | An Phoblacht". www.anphoblacht.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  12. ^ Féile FM Archived 25 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine – History
  13. ^ "Laugh at the Bank Comedy Festival". Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
  14. ^ "Feile an Phobail 'pro-IRA' chanting prompts DUP's Brian Kingston to call on public money to be withdrawn from event". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ^ Pierse, Michael (2018). Féile Voices at 30: Memoirs of West Belfast community festival, Féile an Phobail. Orpen Press.
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54°35′31″N 5°57′44″W / 54.5919°N 5.9623°W / 54.5919; -5.9623

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