Columbanus Community Folk Festival – 12-19 June 2022

26th April 2022

Columbanus Community Folk Festival is back and set to roll into Bangor town once again with an eight-day extravaganza of Irish traditional music, song and local culture.

The eight-day festival, supported by Ards & North Down Borough Council, commences Sunday 12 June and runs until the following Sunday, 19 June. Among the music line-up are many world class local and international artists, including Máirtín O’Connor Trio Band, Celtic Storm Band, David Lennon, Cap on the Wall, Siobhán Peoples, Murty Ryan, McClean Family, McGinn Sisters and many more! 

The festival, which will incorporate a rich diversity of cross-community events, will also include boat tours, walking tours and literary evenings hosted by local storytellers, poets and the ‘Friends of Columbanus’.  Workshops, singing sessions, music sessions and a youth concert will also feature on the menu.  The wide programme of events means there is truly something to whet the appetite of everyone, with groups/musicians from across Ireland, UK and Europe making visits over the week.

This year the festival’s main headline act is the MÁIRTÍN O’CONNOR TRIO BAND supported by CELTIC STORM which will take place on Saturday June 18 at St Comgall’s Parish Centre, Bangor.  Individually, the Máirtín O’Connor Trio Band are recognised figureheads of the tradition, they have built solid reputations as master musicians with astounding skill, diversity and virtuosity. Together they produce a vibrant and musically charged experience that redefines one’s concept of brilliance, verging on perfection. If this musical powerhouse does not get you to your feet, nothing will.  Supporting act Celtic Storm needs no introduction to the town of Bangor. This locally grown group have been described by Irish media as “the best of Irish culture” and their globally acclaimed stage production of Irish traditional music, song and dance has been showcased internationally to audiences all over the world.  Their performances are regarded as amazing, vibrant and flamboyant and they will leave the audience in total wonderment.

Other paid headline events include COLUMBANUS BOAT TOUR (Sun 12 & 19 June, Bangor Marina), the FESTIVAL YOUTH CONCERT (Wed 15 June, St Comgall’s Parish Centre, Bangor) and the COLUMBAN WAY WALK (Fri 17 June, Comber Square, Comber - full details at www.friendsofcolumbanusbangor.co.uk).  The ‘Columbanus Boat Tour’ is a new addition to the folk festival and will incorporate a boat trip, on board “Ocean Crest”, along Bangor’s beautiful coastal path listening to Co Down songs from local Singer/Songwriter David Lennon and storytelling/poetry from Marianne McShane and Tim Dwyer.  The ‘Festival Youth Concert’ has proved to be a real favourite over the years in the folk festival’s programme.  Hundreds of young talented artists will take to the stage to perform, including MUDRA School of Indian Dance, Clelland Memorial Pipe Band, Irish Dancers, local School Choirs / School Music Groups and the McGinn Sisters, a celtic traditional music family comprising of three sisters on Harp, Fiddle and Whistle/Flute. The Columban Way Walk is another new addition to the festival and is being organised by “The Friends of Columbanus”.  Explore the rich monastic heritage in Ards and North Down with experienced walking and tourism guides.  The 6 mile walk will take you from Comber to Scrabo Tower and on to Newtownards, either finishing in Conway Square or Movilla Abbey.   The cost per person, which includes bus shuttle to take walkers back to Comber and light refreshments along the way is £5.

Tickets for all these paid events are available to purchase at Thomas’ Mace Store, Brunswick Rd, Bangor and/or online at: www.ardscce.co.uk.

The festival is being hosted by the largest North Down Traditional Music Organisation, namely Ards Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (Ards CCÉ) from Bangor and they are expecting upwards of 2,000 visitors to attend the eight-day festival, contributing substantial monies to the local economy.

Ards CCE Head Music Tutor said:

“We are delighted to have the local support of our council and be hosting the Columbanus Community Folk Festival once again this year in Bangor. The line-up promises to be one of the best in its history and incorporates an amazing array of 19 events over an eight-day period.  We would welcome everyone to come along and enjoy what will be an amazing cross-community festival atmosphere!”

For the full programme, click here.

For further information, visit:

 www.ardscce.co.uk

 www.facebook.com/ards.comhaltasceoltoirieireann/