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4I was seven years old when <strong>Féile</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>Phobail</strong>was founded in 1988, <strong>an</strong>d so I do not knowwhat life was like without it! For mygeneration the August festival <strong>an</strong>nuallyplayed such <strong>an</strong> import<strong>an</strong>t part in oursummers, something we looked forward towith excitement <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>ticipation. I am veryproud to be the director of Irel<strong>an</strong>d’s biggestcommunity festival, especially on this, the25th <strong>an</strong>niversary of its founding.And now, welcome to the biggest party inBelfast in <strong>2013</strong>, <strong>an</strong>d to the most excitingline-up <strong>Féile</strong> has ever seen!Our main concert space, a huge 3,000capacity marquee, is based in the awardwinningFalls Park, accessible, <strong>an</strong>dwelcoming to all the citizens of our city <strong>an</strong>dour m<strong>an</strong>y visitors.I would like to th<strong>an</strong>k all those involved inthe original <strong>Féile</strong> in 1988 <strong>an</strong>d all those whodown the years, voluntary workers <strong>an</strong>dstaff - from the Siobh<strong>an</strong> O’H<strong>an</strong>lons to theFra Coog<strong>an</strong>s to the Fra Foxes to the AzuAvilas - who made this festival the greatphenomenon it has become.I would also like to th<strong>an</strong>k our localcommunity; DCAL, Belfast City Council forits ongoing support for <strong>Féile</strong>, NITB, the ArtsCouncil, Foras na Gaeilge, all our sponsors<strong>an</strong>d funders, especially Tennent’s NI, ourfriends in Cork LifeLong Learning Festival(with which we are twinned) <strong>an</strong>d our venuepartners in Falls Park, Coláiste Feirste,Clonard Monastery, St Louise’s <strong>an</strong>d, ofcourse, the wonderful m<strong>an</strong>agement of StMary’s University College for allowing us totake over their campus every August!So, now, go out <strong>an</strong>d enjoy yourselves – youdeserve it!Kevin GambleDirector, <strong>Féile</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>Phobail</strong>Bhí mé seacht mbli<strong>an</strong>a d'aois nuair abunaíodh <strong>Féile</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>Phobail</strong> in 1988, mar sinde, níl a fhios agam ar <strong>an</strong> sórt saoil a bhí<strong>an</strong>n g<strong>an</strong> í! Don ghlúin s'agamsa, bhí róltábhachtach ag <strong>an</strong> fhéile Lúnasa seo inársamhraí gach bliain, rud lena raibh muid agsúil agus tnúth. Tá mé <strong>an</strong>-bhródúil asbheith i mo stiúrthóir den fhéile pobail ismó in Éirinn, go háirithe agus í ag ceiliúradh<strong>an</strong> 25ú bliain a bunaithe.Anois, fáilte go dtí <strong>an</strong> chóisir is mó i mBéalFeirste in <strong>2013</strong>, agus go dtí na hócáidí, naceoltóirí agus na taibheoirí is corraithí dáraibh ag <strong>Féile</strong> riamh!Inár bpríomhspás ceolchoirme beidhollphuball le toilleadh do 3,000 duine, suitei bPáirc na bhFál gradambhuaiteach, ambeidh fáilte roimh gach saoránach árgcathrach agus roimh <strong>an</strong> chuid mhórcuairteoirí inár gcathair dul <strong>an</strong>n.Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leosiúd a raibh baint acu leis <strong>an</strong> chéad Fhéile in1988 agus leis na hoibrithe deonacha agus<strong>an</strong> fhoire<strong>an</strong>n - ó Siobh<strong>an</strong> O’H<strong>an</strong>lon go FraCoog<strong>an</strong> ó Fra Foxes go Azu Avilas -ba chúisleis <strong>an</strong> fhéile fheinimé<strong>an</strong>ach iontach seo.Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil Ienárbpobal áitiúil; le DCAL, Comhairle CathrachBhéal Feirste as a tacaíocht le<strong>an</strong>únach do<strong>Féile</strong>, NITB, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Forasna Gaeilge, lenár n-urraí agusmaoinitheoirí go léir, go háirithe leTennent’s NI, ár gcairde i bh<strong>Féile</strong> FadsaoilChorcaí (lena bhfuil muid nasctha) aguslenár bpáirtnéirí áite i bPáirc na bhFál,Coláiste Feirste, Mainistir Chluain Ard,Coláiste Naomh Labhaoise, agus leoga, leis<strong>an</strong> bhainistíocht iontach i gColáisteOllscoile Naomh Muire as lige<strong>an</strong> dúinnúsáid a bhaint as a gcampas gach Lúnasa!Mar sin, gabhaigí amach agus bainigí sultaisti, – tá sí tuillte agaibh!Kevin GambleStiúrthóir, <strong>Féile</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>Phobail</strong>For 25 years <strong>Féile</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>Phobail</strong> has beena beacon for creative communitiesaround the world, having grownbeyond its original humble beginnings<strong>an</strong>d far exceeding its expectations tobecome Irel<strong>an</strong>d’s largest, best known,respected <strong>an</strong>d most influentialCommunity Arts Festival.This growth <strong>an</strong>d success has beenachieved because of the strong vision,ethos <strong>an</strong>d commitment of its founders:qualities which continue to drive thesustained development of <strong>Féile</strong> <strong>an</strong><strong>Phobail</strong>.At Tennent’s NI we are proud to havebeen associated with the festival sinceits earliest days. It is <strong>an</strong> appropriate aswell as a hugely enjoyable associationfor us because, like <strong>Féile</strong>, we are proudof both our local roots <strong>an</strong>d ourinternational reputation.Our congratulations go to all thosewhose creative passion <strong>an</strong>d vision haveshaped what promises to be <strong>an</strong>incredible ‘silver <strong>an</strong>niversary’programme <strong>an</strong>d we are thrilled asalways that Tennent’s NI <strong>an</strong>d its br<strong>an</strong>dswill be at the heart of the surroundingsociability <strong>an</strong>d craic.Tom McCuskerM<strong>an</strong>aging Director, Tennent’s NI
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