Causeway Coast and Glens Welcomes Success of Inaugural Lir Sessions Festival in Ballycastle

Ballycastle was filled with the sound of folk and traditional music over the May Bank Holiday weekend as the inaugural Lir Sessions Festival brought five days of live performances, cultural experiences and community celebration to the town.

Organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, the new festival ran from 21–25 May and featured sold-out headline shows, authentic session trails, interactive workshops and more than 40 free performances and events across Ballycastle, attracting visitors and music lovers from across Northern Ireland and beyond.

From intimate concerts to lively late-night sessions, venues, bars and public spaces throughout the town were transformed into vibrant hubs of music and culture, while also providing a welcome boost to local businesses during the busy holiday weekend.

The festival opened on Thursday evening with Women of the North at Yarn, celebrating the influential women shaping folk and traditional music across the North. The event featured acclaimed performers Ríoghnach Connolly, Deirdre Havlin, Katie Sands and Aoife Scott.

Friday evening saw Frances Black perform a special homecoming concert at the Marine Hotel to a sold-out audience, with festivalgoers enjoying an intimate performance from one of Ireland’s most celebrated voices.

Throughout the weekend, audiences also enjoyed a range of free performances from established artists including The Rapparees, Niall Hanna and the Peadar Connor Band, alongside traditional dance showcases and family entertainment.

One of the standout events of the festival was The Big Céilí at Yarn, where audiences of all ages and backgrounds came together for an energetic evening of dancing led by the Colla Céilí Band and caller Ronan Eastwood. The event proved one of the most popular of the weekend, welcoming both experienced dancers and first-time participants.

At the heart of the festival was the Session Trail, which saw musicians gather in venues across Ballycastle each evening for informal trad sessions. The trail created a lively atmosphere throughout the town and offered audiences the opportunity to experience traditional music in its most authentic and spontaneous setting.

The wider programme also celebrated the culture surrounding folk and trad music, with Irish language pop-ups, “come and try” instrument workshops, traditional dance performances and children’s entertainment. A Makers Market along the seafront added to the family-friendly atmosphere across the weekend.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, welcomed the success of the inaugural event: “The Lir Sessions Festival has brought a fantastic energy and vibrancy to Ballycastle over the Bank Holiday weekend, showcasing the very best of our local culture, music and hospitality.

“It has been wonderful to see residents and visitors coming together to enjoy such a diverse programme of events, while also supporting local businesses and experiencing all that Ballycastle and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens area has to offer. Festivals like this play an important role in strengthening our cultural tourism offering and celebrating our rich musical heritage.”

The success of the inaugural festival marks an exciting addition to the Causeway Coast and Glens events programme, firmly establishing Lir Sessions as a vibrant celebration of folk and traditional music on the Causeway Coast.