Mayo anniversary festival unveils newly announced events including World Premiere screening

Westival, Westport’s festival of music and arts, has revealed a new wave of events for its 2025 programme, expanding an already exciting line-up. The updated festival poster featuring the complete programme is now available.

Newly announced highlights for the 50th anniversary of the event include:

● Tolü Makay – One of Ireland’s most powerful contemporary voices, bringing her soul-stirring sound to Westport

● Stitch Their Name – A Palestine solidarity event taking place in the Dunnes Stores building, inviting the community to honour and remember through the act of stitching

● The Crow Gallery Exhibition – An individual exhibition showcasing artists working through the lens of disability justice. The gallery explores perceptions of disability, ableism, and inclusion, aiming to challenge attitudes and spark dialogue about the lived experiences of disabled people. Featuring both local disabled artists and national contributors, it promotes visibility, community, and a shift in how society views difference

● Image a Day – Presented at the Town Hall, this exhibition celebrates the beauty of everyday moments through photography. Curated by Fiona Quinn and featuring the Image a Day to Brighten Your Day Facebook group, it brings together local hobby photographers and community members, showcasing how creativity and wellbeing can be found in ordinary life

● Resonant Vessels – An exhibition of twenty sculptural teapots by Westport artists Linda Mulloy (glass) and Lou Wilde (wood). Playful, surreal, and unexpected, the works reimagine the familiar ritual of tea as vessels of imagination, connection, and delight

● Safe Unsound (World Premiere) – Westival is proud to host the world premiere of 'Safe Unsound', a moving film set in rural Mayo. It follows three displaced Ukrainian families as they rebuild their lives with resilience and hope, navigating challenges of work, family, and belonging while forging a new community far from the front lines.

The World Premiere of Safe Unsound takes place at Westival.

Events already announced include also features performances from Matt Molloy & Friends, Christopher Coe, Ye Vagabonds, Breda Burns, Niall McCabe, Zaska, Paddy Hitler, and many more. Theatre, film, literature, and visual art events will unfold across Westport from October 22 to 27. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Westival, one of Ireland’s longest-running arts festivals.

Founded in 1975, Westival has grown from a small community celebration into a landmark event on the national cultural calendar. Over five decades it has brought international and Irish artists to Westport, while nurturing local talent and fostering a spirit of creativity and connection. Today, Westival continues to celebrate the arts in all their forms, from music and theatre to literature and visual art, making Westport a cultural hub each October. Westival 2025 runs from 22–27 October across multiple venues in Westport. The updated festival poster (below) with the complete line-up is now live.

“To step into the role of Director in Westival’s 50th year is a real honour. This festival has been part of the fabric of Westport for half a century, and it means a lot to me to carry that legacy forward. My hope is that this year’s programme reflects both where we’ve come from and where we’re headed, while offering audiences moments of joy, connection, and inspiration,” says Bryan Pepper - Westival Director.

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Tickets and full programme details are available now at www.westival.ie