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The Dalriada Festival (now known as Dalfest) is an annual cultural and heritage festival of sport, music and foods that takes place in the village of Glenarm, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom each July.[1]
Overview edit
The main events take place at Glenarm Castle. The festival was first held in 1995 and has grown to include Highland Games,[2] celebrity chef demonstrations, performing arts, live music, craft stalls and children's entertainment.[3]
As part of the festival, Glenarm Castle also hosts outdoor concerts known as "DalriadaLIVE".[4] Artists who have appeared at DalriadaLIVE include General Fiasco, Duke Special, Amici, The Priests, Brian Houston, David Phelps, Ronan Keating, Sharon Corr, Nathan Carter and Lisa McHugh.[5] Glenarm village and the local area provides the location for the sporting events such as a triathlon, kids duathlon, mountain run, football, shinty, rowing regatta and horse hunt chase.[6] The village also hosts community based events including a treasure hunt, fun run, it's a knockout, a foraging walk, and Northern Ireland's only wife-carrying competition.[7] In 2013, additional events were added to the festival programme including a hiring fair and a super EnduroCross competition at the old quarry in Glenarm. The festival week traditionally comes to end with a street carnival, live music and a fireworks finale.[8]
The festival is seen as one of the best throughout Ireland and regularly sees over 25,000 people in attendance.[9][10]
The festival also supports a nominated charity each year, including SANDS and the Signal Foundation.[11]
The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid 19, but a 'Homefest' event was held in 2020 where artists performed at Glenarm with a livestream broadcast.
Dalfest edit
In 2021 the festival was repackaged as 'Dalfest' and was held as a live event with social distancing regulations in place. Artists included The Undertones, Pixie Lott and Ella Henderson.[12]
The 2022 event saw guests including Tom Odell, Melanie C, Roman Kemp, Paddy Raff, Dea Matrona and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir.[13]
The 2023 festival is due to be held on 15–16 July, with The Vamps and KT Tunstall included in the guest list.[14][15]
References edit
- ^ Ulster Scots Agency website
- ^ "Highland Games at Dalriada Festival". UTV. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ Ulster Scots Agency website
- ^ Fame Magazine website
- ^ NI World website
- ^ NI Good Food website
- ^ BBC website
- ^ What's on NI website
- ^ Connolly Cove website
- ^ Ballygally Castle Hotel website
- ^ Ulster Scots Agency website
- ^ Irish News website
- ^ Universe.com website
- ^ Belfast Telegraph website
- ^ Planet Radio website