Mayo footballer Jack Carney to open festival on Achill Island

Mayo All-Ireland winner Jack Carney will travel to Achill this evening to officially open the annual Féile Chill Damhnait festival which celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The 10th year of Féile Chill Damhnait will be officially opened this evening, Friday, August 7 with an action packed list of events planned with Upper Achill the place to be with events to cater for people of all ages running until August 19.

The official opening will take place in the Marquee beside Patten's Bar in Derreens at 8.30pm with Mayo midfielder Jack Carney travelling from Kilmeena to do the honours followed by the crowning of Kildownet's King and Queen for 2026, Seamus Cafferkey and Christine Cooney.

Carney who kicked two two-pointers in Mayo’s historic victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final in Croke Park on July 26 is no stranger to the island and was also on hand to open last’s year’s féile.

Since its inception, the féile is the highlight of the summer for the local community with many of the diaspora travelling home especially for the féile and to meet old friends and neighbours.

One of the highlights of every féile is the show put on by members of Achill Musical and Dramatic Society who are back again this year with 'American Country Show' on Saturday, August 8 at 8pm.

The Marquee will be transformed into an 'American Hoedown' featuring folk and country-and-western music and lots of line dancing, cowboy stetsons, boots and yee hawing.

Tickets for show are available to buy at Achill Sound Post Office and Patten's Bar as well as on www.eventbrite.ie.

Another night not to be missed will take place on Wednesday, August 12 when the renowned magician, Keith Barry returns to Féile Chill Damhnait with his brand new show 'Mind Games'.

Mind Games will remain a mystery with the content of the show being kept a complete secret except for those lucky ones to witness it live so make sure you don't miss out. The show starts at 8.30pm with tickets available on eventbrite.ie.

Family Fun Day takes place on Sunday, August 9 starting at 12 noon with a guaranteed fun day out for the whole family with a face painting, Achill Island Alpacas and the Achill Island Fire Brigade will also be present along with lots more besides. The Junior Einstein Interactive Science Show will take place at 3pm with fun-filled hands-on science with exciting experiment stations, interactive challenges and plenty of 'wow' moments.

Another highlight of the festival will a concert by All-Ireland Champions Glór na dTonn who were selected by Culture Ireland to deliver a special showcase concert celebrating Ireland’s EU Presidency Culture Programme 2026. Ceolchoirm na Féile takes place on Monday, August 17 at 8pm in the Marquee.

Féile Chill Damhnait's famous Ladies Day on Tuesday, August 11 will be filled with Presecco, Afternoon Tea and lots more but the sad news is it has been sold out for weeks.

Another highlight of this year's féile is the Achill Beg Day which returns on Saturday, August 15 with the first ferry departing Cé Mhór in Cloughmore at 11am and the return trips departing at 4pm. A guided walk of Achill Beg will be led by Vivian Ruddy with DJ Ciarán Bennett providing live music along with a BBQ and a TUK shop on the island.

The annual Slí Ghráinne Mhaol Walk with Vivian and friends will take place on Thursday, August 13 at 12.30pm while a Mass in Kildownet Cemetery and a visit to the holy well will take place on Friday, August 14 at 6.30pm.

The Paddy Lavelle Golf Competition will take place on Sunday, August 16 with the presentation at 9.30pm.

Other events planned for the féile include fun and fitness with Pamela, sheepdog demonstrations as well as table quizzes, 5k and 10k road races and a cycle run.

There will be lots of musical entertainment during the féile with the local trad band, Achill 400 playing on Saturday, August 15 and music nightly in Patten's throughout the festival.

The organisers of Féile Chill Damhnait are looking forward to welcoming people home for the féile and full details of events are available on their Facebook and Instagram social media pages.