Maynooth University celebrates its third Arts and Minds Festival this May

The 2024 Arts and Minds Festival takes place in Maynooth University from May 9-11, the third year that the University is staging this annual celebration of Irish and international culture.

The varied and packed programme includes events for all ages and tastes, starting with a concert version of Antonio Vivaldi’s opera, L’Olimpiade, on Thursday, May 9 in MU’s Aula Maxima. Presented by the Irish National Opera, it features Peter Whelan conducting the Irish Baroque Orchestra.

Internationally acclaimed silent film musician Stephen Horne will accompany a screening of the 1922 silent movie, Foolish Wives, on Saturday, May 11. Principally a pianist, Horne often incorporates other instruments into his performances, sometimes simultaneously. Film events include a screening of the award-winning film, Ballywalter, starring MU graduate Seána Kerslake and The Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty.

On Saturday, Queer Religion, an award-winning photographic exhibition celebrating prominent queer leaders in religion, will be on display in the TSI Building on the MU campus. It will be accompanied by a panel discussion with the photographer, Frances Marshall, and chaired by celebrant and inclusion warrior, Karen Dempsey, to consider the multi-faceted nature of queerphobia.

The 2024 festival also includes a satellite event on Thursday, May 16, when the acclaimed Palestinian novelist, essayist and academic, Adania Shibli, reads from her 2020 novel, Minor Detail, which was longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2021.

Irish language and culture feature prominently in the main weekend festival programme – with An Fhéile Bheag, which kicks off with REIC on Friday 10th, a slam poetry and performance evening directed by Ciara Ní É in Maynooth village.

This will be followed on Saturday 11th by Irish-medium workshops in sean-nós singing with TG4 and RTÉ Award winner Síle Denvir, and in Irish-language rap for teenagers with Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabhan as well as a sean-nós singing walk with famous Oriel singers Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláithín Mhic Cana.

Finally, At the Aula are delighted to present On The Road Again with Tom Dunne (Something Happens), Fiachna Ó Braonáin (Hothouse Flowers), & Alan Connor together with acclaimed Irish alternative folk duo and Maynooth University almuni, Lemoncello, who together will bring the curtain down on this year’s Festival on Saturday, 11th May. 

Festival goers can keep their strength up with a wide range of street food, provided by Irish Village Markets from 12-6pm on Saturday, May 11.

The full programme of events and Eventbrite tickets are available on the MU website.