A NEW music and culture festival that aims to promote the Irish language is set to take place at the scenic setting of Ardgillian Castle this June.
Billed as the first major music and entertainment festival to use the Irish language, Ravelóid will put Irish speaking at its forefront with performances from big name artists.
The 18th century Ardgillian Castle, located a 40-minute drive north of Dublin, will play host to an estimated 5000 campers from Friday, June 10 to Saturday, June 11.
With an aim of promoting Ireland’s first national language, the festival will combine new and traditional Irish music, comedy, dance and literature with talks and workshops where festival-goers can practise or perfect their Irish.
The festival’s organisers say Ravelóid will be "a dynamic celebration of the Irish language as an intrinsic element of our identity” as well as providing “a wonderful insight into the vibrancy and diversity of the language’s contemporary culture in 2016”.
As festival organisers have argued, there are countless events held annually across Ireland that use the English language. Ravelóid’s organisers hope to create an alternative for Irish speakers.
Festival-goers will experience headlining performances from acts such The Riptide Movement and Hamsandwich and Kíla.
Delorentos recently shared their excitement for headlining Ravelóid on social media while young Irish band Seo Linn said that it will be “a great honour to share the stage with incredible bands”.
Tá muid ar bís faoin @Raveloid ! Liosta bannaí dochreidte - onóir mhór dúinn bheith ar an ardán céanna leo ar fad! #Festival
— Seo Linn (@SeoLinn) 9 December 2015
The festival has also attracted the attention of Irish president Michael D. Higgins who recently told an Irish speaking conference that he was especially looking forward to attending Ravelóid.
Beidh @PresidentIRL Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn ag an #Ravelóid. Bígí Linn- Deireadh le ticéid luathphraghais Lá le Pádraig pic.twitter.com/VjOr6ufkiX
— Ravelóid 2016 (@Raveloid) March 2, 2016
Amuigh ag @ArdgillanCastle ar maidin -tá sceitimíní orainn. Amazing day on-site this morn -10 weeks left! #ravelóid pic.twitter.com/qZxP2sZDE3
— Ravelóid 2016 (@Raveloid) March 30, 2016
Tickets €114 for a two-day adult camping ticket. For full line-up click here
