News

2024 Rathlin Sound Festival brings seaside music and fun to Ballycastle and Rathlin

2024 Rathlin Sound Festival brings seaside music and fun to Ballycastle and Rathlin

Tue, May 28, 2024

The 2024 Rathlin Sound Festival has kicked off a fantastic 10-day programme celebrating the people, culture, and heritage of the area.

Ballycastle and Rathlin welcomed attendees to the newly re-branded festival, with the Naturally North Coast and Glens artisan market proving popular as always.

The crowds who attended were treated to a fantastic array of music, craft, and maritime stories. The weather did not dampen spirits with families enjoying kite displays, paddleboarding, and arts and crafts.

Wild Walk Bushcraft treated visitors to cookery demonstrations using locally sourced food and foraged herbs from the ‘air, earth and sea’ and those who were brave enough had the opportunity to taste unusual flavours such as coal fired eel.

On Sunday visitors were treated to a haunting performance from guitarist and singer/songwriter Erin Doherty who wowed audiences with her own versions of popular songs set against the stunning backdrop of Fairhead. The Causeway Shantymen provided much entertainment for crowds at Ballycastle Sea front making the atmosphere electric.

This week will see the focus move to the stunning backdrop of Rathlin Island, in the lead up to the last few days of the festival where visitors will be treated to Lunchtime Concert with Wendy Jack and Tuned In Collective on Wednesday the 29th May and a pub quiz in aid of Mayor’s Charity RNLI in McCuaig’s Bar in the evening.

Join Sarah Hardy on Thursday or Friday for some gentle yoga that’s free and suitable for all, with model boat building with Stornoway artist, Christine Morrison at the Richard Branson Centre.

The 2024 Rathlin Sound Festival continues until Sunday 2nd June for more information visit www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com

To see the full programme of events for Ballycastle visit https://bit.ly/3yzgiK5

To see the full programme of events for Rathin visit https://bit.ly/4aDqiiZ

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Steven Callaghan, Deputy Mayor Councillor Margaret-Anne McKillop who both attended this year’s Rathlin Sound Festival. The pair are pictured at Ballycastle seafront. Ballycastle’s iconic seafront and the seabird sculpture pictured here, was one of the backdrops for this year’s Rathlin Sound Festival. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Councillor Steven Callaghan, Deputy Mayor Councillor Margaret-Anne McKillop pictured alongside Eoin McConnell of Seasons of the Glens at the 2024 Rathlin Sound Festival. The seaside location for Rathlin Sound Festival attracted crowds of people who enjoyed stilt walking pirates. An instructor from Wild Walk Bushcraft treated visitors at this year’s Rathlin Sounds Festival to cookery demonstrations over coal fires. Paddle boarding was just one of the family activities on offer at this year’s Rathlin Sounds Festival. As part of this year’s Rathlin Sound Festival James enthrals children with a drum performance at the Fun With Drums workshop. Crowds of visitors made their way to the 2024 Rathlin Sound Festival.