Oireachtas na Samhna 2025 launches in Belfast
Oireachtas na Samhna 2025 in Belfast officially launched by Minister Dara Calleary
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary T.D., launched the 2025 Oireachtas na Samhna festival at a special ceremony today (29 October 2025) at ICC Belfast. The Minister commenced by welcoming the thousands of people from Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht communities across the country who had travelled to Belfast specially to participate in the annual Oireachtas celebrations along with the local community.
Belfast was announced as the Host City for the 2025 Oireachtas na Samhna festival, almost two years ago and the President of the Oireachtas, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, thanked Belfast City Council, the Department of Communities and arts, culture and Irish-language groups across the city who came together to ensure the hosting of the festival in Belfast in 2025.
Mr. Ó Cuív said: “I am delighted that the annual Irish-language arts and culture festival, Oireachtas na Samhna 2025, is returning to Belfast City this year, it’s first visit to the city since 1997 and we are all looking forward to a wonderful celebration of the performing arts as Gaeilge.
Belfast City Council has supported us throughout the preparations for the festival, ensuring that the very best of facilities and venues in the city were available to us.
"I appreciate the enthusiasm and dedication of the Council, the Department of Communities and the city’s vibrant Irish-speaking community in their commitment to this unique arts and culture festival.”
“A very big Belfast welcome to all those travelling here for Oireachtas na Samhna – it’s great to have you here and we hope you enjoy your time with us,” said Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty.
Our council is pleased to have helped bring Oireachtas back to Belfast for the first time in 28 years, providing a valuable opportunity to celebrate the cultural significance of language and demonstrate why all languages should be protected and nurtured.
“Big events like this also have a huge impact in supporting our tourism, hospitality and retail sectors and highlighting our city to new visitors, so we’re looking forward to showing off all that we have to offer to participants and spectators attending the festival.”
Launching the 2025 Oireachtas na Samhna Festival, Minister Dara Calleary said: “An tOireachtas is a unique opportunity for the Irish-speaking community to celebrate and showcase our passion for the language to the wider world."
“Belfast last hosted this festival in 1997, and we are delighted to be back for the festival this year in this beautiful harbourside city – a city with a rich linguistic history and a vibrant Irish-speaking community."
The Oireachtas is a fun and exciting festival, and it is also a living demonstration of the fact that Irish is a living, strong language, spoken with pride throughout the country.
Other main festival events taking place today include the 2025 Oireachtas Media Awards Ceremony which will be held in the Belfast City Hall and streamed live on www.tg4.ie. Comprehensive coverage of all festival events will be provided by our media partners: RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, TG4, BBC Northern Ireland, RTÉ, Meon Eile, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte, Raidió Rí-Rá, Tuairisc.ie, The Irish News, Andersonstown News in addition to other multimedia platforms.
The official festival program features over 200 events over 5 days, including performing arts competitions, seminars, book/CD launches, workshops, festival clubs, music and singing sessions, information, and discourse sessions and much more.
All up to the minute information is available on the Oireachtas website: https://www.antoireachtas.ie/o... and the festival app can be downloaded from the Google Playstore and App Store for €5.
More Information: Caitríona Ní Chonaill, An tOireachtas T: +353(0)87 463405 R: [email protected]
