Inaugural French Mayo Festival to take place later this month
IF you can't get to France for a break this summer, then let France come to you.
This month sees the inaugural French Mayo Festival take place in Ballina. Billed as 'A taste of France along the Wild Atlantic Way', the two-day festival will be held on August 26 and 27 with the aim of building on the unique historical connection enjoyed by Mayo with France, which dates from the landing of General Humbert in Kilcummin, near Killala, in 1798.
The French Mayo Festival, organised by Ballina Chamber, will build on Ballina’s reputation for arts and culture, showcasing all that is good about both regions through music, food and pageantry. Highlights of the weekend include a French-themed pageant in the historic Military Quarter on Friday, August 26, the Ballina Food Fleadh on Saturday, August 27, a traditional music 'session trail in the town centre on Saturday afternoon, and a big live gig on Saturday night featuring iconic rockers The Stunning and Irish folk-rock band Kíla.
The Military Quarter will be at the heart of the festivities, and for the very first time all French Mayo events in the Military Barracks are set to take place under cover in what will be a really unique outdoor space in the west of Ireland. The cover is in the process of being fitted to the barracks by Mayo County Council and is expected to be a game-changer for events in Ballina.
On Saturday afternoon, the much-loved Food Fleadh Ballina will showcase the best of Mayo food, with a host of restaurants and artisan producers around the county working together to create a spectacular French-themed food event.
The Food Fleadh is open to all food businesses in Mayo, and there are a limited number of places still available. It will be complemented by a live trad session trail taking place in a number of venues in the town centre during the afternoon, where musicians and performers from all around the county and beyond are set to put on a trad extravaganza with music, dance, storytelling and sean-nós.
The French Mayo Festival is supported by Failte Ireland, Mayo County Council and the French Embassy. In time, it is the ambition of the committee to make this a large-scale signature event along the Wild Atlantic Way that will attract significant visitor numbers and interest from overseas.
French Mayo committee chairman and Ballina Chamber PRO Brian Hopkins said: “We believe that working together as a community and a county, we have the talent and ability in Mayo to stage a top-class, professionally-run festival that will rival any large-scale event in the capital. This year we are planning to establish French Mayo as a must-see for our European visitors planning to travel the Wild Atlantic Way in 2017.”
Anne-Marie Flynn, marketing manager at MayoNorth.ie, added: “We are delighted to see the development of another strong event in the Mayo North festivals calendar. It can only help in the quest to attract more visitors to this beautiful region. We are delighted to be working with the French Mayo committee and the various groups and stakeholders from throughout the county that are working hard to make this ambitious event a huge success.”
For a full list of events, see MayoNorth.ie.