Irish Language Week in Mid & East Antrim
Wednesday 5 March 2025
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is hosting three events next week in celebration of Irish Language Week 2025.
The event will be packed full of entertainment – celebrating the rich history of Irish language across the Borough and beyond.
At 7pm on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, a wealth of local musicians will take to the stage at the Studio Theatre in The Braid to celebrate Irish language, traditional music and culture. The free event will also feature Irish dancing, and Irish folk tales from renowned storyteller Steve Lally.
Musical entertainment will come from Portglenone CCE, Ceoltoirí Baile Randal, Ballymena’s own Glór Dhal Raida, as well as Elaine and Nigel Black and other guests.
Tickets for this event are free but must be pre-booked on the Ticketsource website.
Thursday, 13 March, brings a special medieval gaming event – Cattle Battle!
Developed as part of a community engagement project by Carrickfergus Museum, the Cattle Battle game allows players to take on character roles, discovering the twists and turns that were faced by those who lived during the medieval period.
The free event takes place at 7pm at Carrickfergus Town Hall and can be booked online through The Braid website’s What’s On section.
On Friday, 14 March, there will be a free Irish History Walking Tour of Ballymena.
This event will see tour guide Alastair Donaghy lead you on an exploration of history, visiting graves, examining early Presbyterian history and investigating the links to the Casement family, the United Irishmen of 1798 and Rose Young of Galgorm Castle.
The tour begins at 2pm from the Harmony Hub in the town and will be taking in a wealth of history over a 1.5-mile route through the town centre.
Tickets can be booked on the Ticketsource website.
Irish language Week, which runs from 1 - 17 March each year, aims to promote and celebrate the Irish Language, heritage and culture, and inspire others to become involved with the language.