All you need to know about Mayo Day 2024 in Belmullet
What's on and where - and at what time
Belmullet will become the focal point of all thing Mayo on Saturday next, May 4, when Mayo Day celebrates its tenth birthday in style in the stunning north Mayo town.
Mayo Day has become synonyms with a top-quality line up of music over the past decade and this year is no different.
Carter Square in the heart of the town will be the focal point for the day for music fans, with the Mayo Day Big Stage hosting a stellar line up of acts throughout the day.
The renowned Hit Machine Drummers will kick things off at 12 noon when they bring their rhythmic resonances through the streets of the town and up on to the big stage to get things going.
Up next will be Redmond Connolly who will preform a new song he has specially written for the tenth anniversary of Mayo Day.
The fabulous Boxing Banjo will bring their own take on modern trad music to the crowds from 1pm and are not to be missed.
Stuart Moyles will have everyone dancing around the square, when he hits the stage with his band at 2.15 p.m.
Local Celtic Rock act Trad Lib will keep the pulse racing when it’s their turn to entertain the masses from 3.45 p.m. – the final act is sure to bring the music stage to a toe-tapping close when Gerry Guthrie and his band bring their fantastic live show to the stage.
Barrack Street will be home to the ever-popular Mayo Day Craft Marquee. Come see some of Mayo’s magnificent producers of beautiful crafts at our marquee on Barrack Street, with our biggest lineup of exhibitors yet.
You’ll find everything from one-of a kind framed artwork or some mood-enhancing candles to light up and lift your home.
Family fun has always been a key part of Mayo Day and this year it’s no different and the grounds of Belmullet Civic Offices and inside Áras Inis Gluaire will be a hive of family fun activities on Mayo Day.
A full line up of events including Interactive children’s art workshop with Lukasz Krzywon of Creative Together, Photographic Exhibitions by Belmullet Library, The Sensory Express sensory bus, Art Exhibitions, Book reading by author Sarah Webb, Mobile DJ, Circus acts Fishy n’ Dishy (juggling workshop) and Out of the Blue (interactive circus show) and giant games and playground area all part of the Mayo Day.
The Mayo Fire Service are always a very popular part of Mayo Day, and they will be on taking part again this year and will be holding demonstrations throughout the day at the Belmullet Fire Station located beside Áras Inis Gluaire.
For the food lovers – there will be ample opportunities to taste some great quality and tasty food throughout the day with food trucks and vans across all the locations – but there is one destination that you don’t want to miss and that is the Mayo Day Food Village, located on the Belmullet Docks.
Local chef John Conmy will be curating the food village and he has put together a stunning line up of demonstrations and talks including a cooking demonstration with Barry Ralph, House of Plates Castlebar, showcasing the best of Mayo produce at 12.40 p.m.
This will be followed by a presentation from Anthony Irwin from Dulra Seaweed at 1.30 p.m.; Laura Broderick will be next up with a cooking demonstration followed by a Q&A session from 1.50 p.m.
A panel discussion chaired by Ian McAndrew featuring local fishermen, farmers, and food producers from 3.40pm is sure to be a highlight and the event will close with a cooking demonstration from the days host John Conmy who will showcase locally caught fish and lamb from the Mullet peninsula.
It couldn’t be Mayo Day without it also being Lá Maigh Eo and for Irish language lovers and those who want to brush up on their Gaeilge, the Lá Maigh Eo marquee on the docks is the place to be.
A fantastic line up of events has been curated so there is something for everyone.
With Spraoi nan Óg kicking things off at 11.30 a.m. with songs and stories for three to six-year-olds.
That will be followed by and event for 7 to 12-year-olds, Coimicí Gael with cartoonist Aidan Courtney and local author Nicola Lavelle from 12.15 p.m.
At 1.30 p.m. Trasna na dTonnta will see the sharing of folklore, stór focal and place names from the Mayo Gaeltachtaí – an event not to be missed.
Get ready for sean-nós singing, literature and poetry from the Iorras community when Gaeltacht Iorrais gets going at 2.30 p.m. and there is still even more with Steip! Showcasg set dancing and demonstrations from local dancers.
All this and more.
For more information and full run down of the day’s events, log onto https://www.mayoday.ie
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