Newry Arts Festival Gets Underway This Thursday with Plenty of Creative Surprises

This Thursday 19 March marks the beginning of Newry Arts Festival, launching ten days of performances, screenings and creative activities across the city until 29 March. Across the ten-day programme, audiences can enjoy a broad mix of live performances, film, literature and hands-on workshops taking place at venues throughout Newry.

Organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the festival once again continues to provide a platform for both established performers and emerging local talent while offering audiences a chance to experience a wide variety of art forms.

The arts programme will get underway at Newry Town Hall with the opening night screening of Celtic Utopia / Útóipe Cheilteach. The documentary explores the rich musical and cultural connections shared between Celtic communities across the Atlantic. Through a combination of powerful performances, striking landscapes and personal reflections from artists and musicians, the film celebrates the enduring influence of Celtic identity, language and tradition. With limited tickets still available, the screening is a fitting start to a festival that places creativity and cultural expression at its heart.

Comedy fans will have the opportunity to see popular performers including Paddy Raff and William Thompson, alongside Newry native Lianne McCooey. Music events will feature well-known Irish folk artist, Luka Bloom and the Newry Chamber Orchestra, while the story of local thrash metal band, Gama Bomb will be told through the screening of their documentary, ‘Gama Bomb – Survival of the Fastest’.

Film remains an important part of this year’s programme, with further screenings including, ‘Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story’ and the Irish-language black comedy thriller, ‘Aontas’. Together with the opening night film, these screenings highlight the diversity and strength of contemporary Irish filmmaking.

A variety of family-friendly events will also take place during the festival. Younger audiences can enjoy puppetry shows, storytelling sessions, Lego animation workshops and hip hop dance classes, while those interested in developing creative skills can attend a Digital Music Production Workshop to learn the fundamentals of making music using modern technology.

Ensuring that events are accessible to as many people as possible is an important part of the festival programme. A Relaxed Screening will be available for neurodivergent audiences and their families, and Barry’s Beats club night will offer a sensory-considered dance event specifically designed for adults with autism and learning difficulties.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said,
“Newry Arts Festival continues to build on its success each year, offering an exciting programme that brings creativity and culture to the heart of the city. It is a great opportunity to support artists, discover new performances and enjoy a wide range of events taking place across our local venues.”

From grand stages to hidden corners, the festival brings art into unexpected places, transforming everyday spaces into moments of wonder and celebration. Whether you’re a lifelong arts lover or simply curious to try something new, Newry Arts Festival promises memorable experiences and plenty of creative surprises.

Check out the programme here: Visit Mourne Gullion Strangford | Newry Arts Festival