Féile Beag

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A Little Festival With A Big Heart

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Féile Beag was born from a simple idea: to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original Féile ‘Trip to Tipp’, which brought thousands of music fans to Thurles in 1990.

In 2015, Sully and I decided to mark that anniversary by bringing live music back to the town. We had just five weeks to turn the idea into reality, with the August Bank Holiday fast approaching. I was living between Dublin and Wexford at the time, while Sully was on the ground in Thurles, putting his local contacts to work and helping bring bands, venues and everyone involved together.

We were incredibly lucky to have some brilliant people join us along the way. The master, Kevin Callanan, came on board as our sound engineer, while Johnny Gleeson created the original Féile Beag poster. Hickey’s and Millea’s pubs opened their doors to us and played a huge part in making those first events happen. Without the support, generosity and enthusiasm of the local community, Féile Beag simply wouldn’t have got off the ground.

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Born From Thurles, Built Around Music

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Thurles has never been short of musical talent, so when it came to putting together a lineup, we didn’t have to look far. From established local acts to exciting new bands and musicians just starting out, Féile Beag has always been about giving artists a platform and showcasing the incredible talent on our doorstep.

But music was only part of the story.

David and his amazing wife Josephine came up with the idea of using the festival to raise money for a local charity. That idea became an important part of what Féile Beag stood for, and from 2015 to 2020 we were proud to support CAMEO Dementia Care and Later Tipperary Jigsaw

For us, that is what a festival should be about. Bringing people together, celebrating music and culture, supporting local talent and giving something back to the community that makes it possible.

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Keeping The Memories Alive

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That first summer also saw the creation of the Féile Archive. We wanted to celebrate not only the new Féile Beag but also the history of the original Féile ‘Trip to Tipp’.

Local photographer Eamon Brennan had captured some fantastic photographs from those early days, and we began sharing them through the archive. What started as a way of looking back quickly became something much bigger.

People from Thurles, Tipperary and across Ireland — and even further afield — began sharing their own memories, photographs and stories of the original Féile. For those who were there, it became a chance to relive some unforgettable moments. For those who weren’t, it offered a glimpse into an important part of Thurles’ musical history.

The archive continues to bring people together, proving that the memories created by great music never really disappear.

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More Than A Festival

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Féile Beag may be small compared with some of Ireland’s biggest festivals, but that’s never been the point.

It is about people.

It is about the musicians who take the stage, the volunteers who help make it happen, the venues that open their doors, the local businesses that support it, and the audiences who continue to turn up and make noise.

Most importantly, it is about Thurles and its remarkable musical community.

What began in 2015 with five weeks, a lot of hard work and a slightly crazy idea has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of.

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Féile Beag is small in name, but big in heart — and we’re only getting started.