FÉILE NA bPUITEACHAÍ 2022

Féile na bPuiteachaí Inis Meáin is a new festival taking place at Halla Naomh Eoin on Saturday the 1st of October celebrating Inis Meáin blackberries with a wide variety of events. All are welcome to come and enjoy the many uses of blackberries with art, cookery, music and more.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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Poetry Competition in Irish

We will have two Irish language poetry competitions as part of the festival; Comórtas na nÓg and Comórtas na
nDaoine Fásta.

Comórtas na nÓg

The Comórtas na nÓg is open to primary and secondary school children, who are asked to write a piece of poetry or song lyrics inspired by, or including a reference to ‘puiteachaí’ (Inis Meáin blackberries).

The winner will receive a €30 voucher for Cló Iar Chonnachta.

Comórtas na nDaoine Fásta

Adults are invited to write a piece of poetry or song lyrics inspired by, or including a reference to ‘puiteachaí’.

The winner will receive a prize of €100.

Entries must be submitted before 15:00 on the 29th of September.

This can be done via email to [email protected] or by post to ‘Comórtas Fílíochta, Féile na bPuiteachaí, Ionad Pobail Inis Meáin, Carcair na Leacht, Inis Méain, Co. na Gaillimhe’. All entries must include name, age and a point of contact.

Winners will be announced at the official opening of the festival in Halla Naomh Eoin at 11:30 on the 1st of October.

SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER
HALLA NAOMH EOIN

11:30 OFFICIAL FESTIVAL OPENING

The festival will be officially launched at 11:30 at the hall. Poetry competition winners will be announced and prizes will be presented.

12:00 ‘Puiteachaí’ Picking Walk

Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh will lead a guided walk where participants can pick their own Inis Meáin blackberries and can hear stories and lore about Inis Meáin’s natural landscape. Blackberries collected can be brought home, enjoyed on the spot or used later as part of the family events in the hall.

Participants are encouraged to bring a small container.

13:00 fAMILY eVENTS

13:00 Painting with ‘Puiteachaí’

Juda Uí Loinsigh and Orlaith Breathnach will demonstrate how to make natural dye with blackberries. Paintbrushes and paper will be provided and all are invited to create their own ‘Puiteachaí Painting’. These can be taken home, or displayed on the walls of the hall.

14:00 Jam Making

Learn how to make tasty jam with Inis Meáin blackberries. Participants can add their berries to our pot and take their own Inis Meáin Puiteachaí jam home with them or taste the fruit of their labours on the spot with fresh jam sandwiches.

Old clothes are recommended for these workshops.

15:00 Baking Competition

Participants are invited to present a blackberry-themed dish of their choice before our competition judge.

Entries are to be prepared at home and then presented at the hall on the day where they will be judged anonymously.

1st place will be awarded €100, with €50 for second place and €30 for third place.

All are welcome to the hall during the competition to view the entries, which can be sampled with tea and coffee once the dishes have been judged.

Bakers must register online HERE beforehand, or at Siopa Ruaidhrí Beag.

Bakers must present their dishes at Halla Naomh Eoin at 14:45 sharp so that they may be given a competition number before the judge arrives.

16:30 Drinks Workshop

Pádraig Ó Fátharta will lead this drinks workshop for over 18s, demonstrating how to make tasty gin infusions with seasonal Inis Meáin fruits. All participants will bring their work home with them.

Limited tickets available HERE for €20. A limiteded amount of tickets will also be available for purchase at Siopa Ruaidhrí Beag.

20:00 Festival Concert

The festival will close with a night of music and song from the celebrated harpist Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, with a special focus on blackberry-themed tunes.

Tickets available HERE for €10. Tickets will also be for sale on the door on the night.