Irish Language Week in Mid & East Antrim
Tuesday 11 March 2025
Irish Language Week 2025 is taking place this week and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Bréanainn Lyness, is reminding residents across the Borough of a number of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council events taking place - celebrating the rich history of Irish language across MEA 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 through the Ticket Source 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 through the Ticket Source 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.