Féile an Phobail – 'West Belfast’s Glastonbury'

» Peadar Whelan

The 11-day festival – from 1 to 11 August – covers 50 venues and features more than 250 events including music, drama, debates and street parties

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A QUARTER OF A CENTURY on from the dark days of 1988 – when the very first Féile an Phobail played out against the sound of guns, bombs, plastic bullets and British Army and RUC terror – the Féile of 2013 is as strong as ever.

Féile Director Kevin Gamble spoke for many people at the Conway Mill launch on 1 July when he said that he didn’t know what life was like without Féile as it has become such an institution in the life of west Belfast and beyond as it has grown and developed over the years, becoming internationally known.

Among the speakers was Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD (the former MP for west Belfast) who was instrumental along with people such as Geraldine McAteer and other leaders within west Belfast who in 1988 laid the foundations for a community festival that would take the tensions out of the August period when British Army and RUC oppression was dominant.

The events surrounding the Gibraltar killings and the Milltown Massacre, followed by the execution of two British corporals at the funeral of Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh marked a low as the political establishment and its media bad-mouthed the people of the area.

The festival was to change so much of that.

Sinn Féin’s Carál Ní Chuilín attended the launch as Arts & Culture Minister, whose department is a major funder of Féile, which starts on 1 August for 11 days.

Carál reminded us of the hectic days of those first open-air concerts in Springhill. “It was our Glastonbury,” she laughed.

As always, Féile offers so much and never fails to deliver on its promise.

“It’s bigger and better,” said Danny Morrison, Chair of the Management Committee.

The 11-day festival – from 1 to 11 August – covers 50 venues and features more than 250 events including music, drama, debates and street parties.

There’s a double bill – City Hall Rocks Back followed by Trad on the Lawn, featuring Derry’s own Cara Dillon – and also appearing will be LAPD (that’s Liam O’Flynn, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin and Donal Lunny).

The Wolfe Tones and Dublin’s best, Damien Dempsey, are among the big names on the programme too.

The Coronas, Happy Mondays and the Charlatans will also play (presumably for the younger generation).

Starring in the ever-popular Comedy Night will be Patrick Kielty.

Debate and discussion in the ground-breaking West Belfast Talks Back will again feature a diverse range of opinion from republican to unionist.

And it’s wee sibling, West Belfast Youth Talks Back, will take its place and possibly steal some of the headlines from its older relative.

The bottom line is that Féile An Phobáil has something for everybody.

Get your own programme or contact Féile www.feilebelfast.com or phone 028 90 303440 to book.