Bumper weekend of entertainment at Féile na Sionainne
Locals and visitors to Athlone over the August Bank Holiday have a bumper weekend of entertainment to look forward to when the annual Féile na Sionainne Festival gets underway with an action-packed programme of events and activities to suit all ages and tastes.
The festival, which will once again be held in collaboration with Riverfest, showcases the best of Athlone's history, heritage and culture through the medium of music, song and dance, with many highlights to look forward to from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3.
Among the highlights will be a performance by the renowned Kilfenora Road Show, featuring Niall Fitzgibbon and friends, in St Mary's Hall, at 5pm on Friday, August 1. All proceeds from a raffle to be held at the event will go towards the Feile na Sionainne charity partners for 2025, Athlone Sub Aqua.
Other huge highlights over the Féile weekend will be a Céili with Rise the Dust in St. Mary's Hall, on Sunday, August 3, from 8pm to 11pm, which will bring to a close the packed weekend of activities for Féile na Sionainne 2025.
The Kilfenora Road Show Concert on Friday evening, August 1, will be preceded by a full day of inclusion events, including separate music therapy sessions for 6-12 year olds and 13-17 year olds; an age-friendly trad session; an inclusive trad disco for adults with additional needs; and a try an instrument workshop with Music Generation Roscommon and Westmeath hosted by Athlone library.
This will be followed by a novel street parade, with Athlone Family Resource Centre proudly presenting a Mythical Ireland street parade, featuring musical and theatrical street performances, beginning at John Paul Park at 7.30pm.
Saturday, August 2, will see a packed schedule of musical entertainment at the covered canopy on Church Street from 12 noon to 5.30pm, including the Reynolds Academy of Irish Dance; members of Tangelwood, Tang fiddle club and tiny tangles, under the direction of their tutor Geraldine McGlynn and junior members of Athlone Comhaltas branch to name but a few.
Saturday will also see the return of the ever-popular Busking Competition in Athlone town centre, which is being held in association with the local branch of Comhaltas. Entry is free and open to under 18s, and entrants are reminded that the competition is not focused solely on traditional Irish music. In fact, all genres of music, song and dance is welcomed and encouraged, with all participants being asked to check in at The Canopy between 11.30am and 12 noon.
There will be Trad Sessions in various venues from Wednesday 30 July to Sunday 2 August in The Dog and Duck in Ballykeeran, The Snug, Flannery's, Monahan's, McNeills, The Brazen Monkey and Walsh's Pub on Connaught Street.
With Féile na Sionainne taking place in collaboration with Athlone Riverfest the August Bank Holiday weekend in Athlone is set to be a bumper weekend, with fun and entertainment aplenty for one and all.
Feile na Sionainne will be officially launched in the Venue, Athlone on Friday July 25 at 7 pm. The launch will feature the highly regarded Ox Mountain Quartet, hailing from Sligo and Mayo. This highly sought after quartet brings an eclectic mix of old and new music and song, delivered with boundless style and talent. While admission to the launch is free, donations to support Feile Na Sionainne will be gratefully accepted.