Fermanagh and Omagh Council launches virtual St. Patrick’s Festival

Speaking at the launch, Councillor Armstrong said: “The recent announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive to extend the current [Lockdown] restrictions until April 1 to help curb the spread of Covid-19 means that this year, the St. Patrick’s Festival will take place entirely online.

“While this means the festival will be different in nature and scale to those of previous years, this year’s programme of events and activities has been developed to provide everyone across the district with the opportunity to get involved in the celebrations in a safe, creative and meaningful way.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in putting together such a varied festival programme and I hope people enjoy the range of online events and activities on offer from March 12 to 20.”

Virtual entertainment

A full programme of virtual entertainment featuring music, dance, storytelling and arts and crafts is planned for the duration of the festival.

Events will be live-streamed from the Ardhowen, Enniskillen and Strule Arts Centre, Omagh’s Facebook accounts.

A short film, ‘The Story of Saint Patrick’, which recounts the story of the saint’s life charting his journey from being abducted and brought to Ireland at the age of 16 to his return as an adult bringing Christianity to the local population, and featuring some local landmarks, will be premiered on the Council’s social media channels.

The popular St. Patrick’s Festival Primary Schools art exhibition returns again this year. Primary schools have been invited to produce some art pieces for the festival and to submit a selection of pictures to be displayed on the Council’s social media channels.

A number of virtual community initiatives, supported by the Council, will take place across the district as part of the festival.

For further information on the St. Patrick’s Festival 2021, see the Council’s website at www.fermanaghomagh.com.