The 2025 Arts and Minds Festival returns to Maynooth University from May 8 - 10, marking the fourth year of this annual celebration of Irish and international culture. This year’s programme is the biggest to date and includes a range of performances, discussions and screenings for all interests and age groups, both on campus and in the town of Maynooth.
Highlights include a musical evening with Irish musician and composer, Sharon Shannon, supported by The Beartla Ó Flatharta Céilí Bandhttps://thebeartlas.ie/, Where is My Mind?, a live podcast with mental health advocate Niall 'Bressie' Breslin and a new event, Sing Your Art Out at The Big Sing, where neighbouring choirs perform as one single choir with new pieces learned at a free choral workshop plus pieces from their own repertoires.
The festival opens on Thursday, May 8, with Italian Passions: An Evening of Bel Canto in Aula Maxima on MU’s South Campus. Presented by the Irish National Opera, the concert features a selection of arias and duets by Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini, performed by Anna Devin and Gianluca Margheri.
Irish language and culture feature prominently in the main weekend festival programme, starting on Friday, May 9 in St Mary’s Church of Ireland with The Say a Song Project, an exploration of Irish cultural heritage in a reimagining of the epic tales of sean nós songs. This will be followed by a traditional Irish evening of storytelling and song at the Oíche Scéalaíochta agus Amhránaíochta in Brady's Clockhouse, Maynooth town.
Literature is always a key part of the festival and The Literary Lounge keynote on Saturday, May 10 features Pulitzer Prize winner Nathan Thrall in conversation with Booker Prize winner and MU Distinguished Writing Fellow Paul Lynch in St Mary’s Church of Ireland.
The 2025 festival will also include a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s film, Barry Lyndon, to celebrate 50 years since its release in 1975. Hosted by Maynooth Film for All in the TSI Building on Saturday, May 10, many of the scenes were filmed at Carton House in Maynooth.
Throughout the festival, there will be family-friendly free events, like the lunchtime concert on Saturday, May 10 with St Mary’s Brass & Reed Band, while a variety of street food will be available on north campus that day, from 11am – 4.30pm, provided by Irish Village Markets.
The full programme and Eventbrite tickets are available on the MU website.
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| Sharon Shannon | Anna Devin and Gianluca Margheri |