BLACKBERRIES, SPUDS AND poetry will be celebrated at a Ireland’s only festival dedicated to the tasty berries we find on our hedges which is to be held this weekend on Inis Meáin as the islanders celebrate their language and nature in tandem.

While the people of Inis Meáin call them puiteacháí, they are known elsewhere in the country as blackberries. 

The festival was founded by television presenter and newspaper columnist Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh and this is the fourth time it has been held. According to Ní Thiarnaigh, the festival has had the same core values ​​since its inception.

“The Puiteachaí festival is a celebration of the richness of nature and the indigenous people here in Inis Meáin. The puiteacháí are of course at the heart of all the events, but we also want to draw attention to the richness of the language of Inis Meáin and the skills of the community.

“It is primarily a community event, but we are delighted that people from all over Ireland also come to the festival and want to experience some of the fun – and of course, the berries!”

The festival organisers have planned a varied programme of events and poetry will be at the heart of the events on Friday – Culture Night as it happens.

On that night, a specially composed ‘agallamh beirte’ (a poetic dialogue, often very funny) will be performed and poetry will be presented by local writers.

Is é seo an císte a bhuaigh an chéad áit sa chomórtas bacála anuraidh.....nom, nom! Sean O Mainnin Sean O Mainnin

One of the highlights of the weekend will be a pot pie baking competition, with people submitting cakes, tarts and other items to the judge, Diarmuid Ó Mathúna from the renowned Connemara café, Pota. He will then be responsible for awarding prizes to the most delicious entries.

Since spuds from the Aran Islands are also renowned, there is also a competition for the largest potato.

“We try to introduce something new every year, in addition to the annual events”, said Gráinne Ní Chonghaile, co-director of the festival. “We will have a craft market for the first time this year, for example, and there will be a mix of handmade goods for sale, including art, knitting, local honey and more”.

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Other festival events will include a ‘Park Run na bPuiteacháí’, a nature walk, an art workshop, and a cocktail workshop all taking place on Saturday.

Information about the festival schedule is available at @FeilenabPuiteachai on Instagram and the weekend’s events are being sponsored by Pleanáil Teanga Inis Meáin, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin, Cniotáil Inis Meáin and Siopa Ruaidhrí Beag Inis Meáin.

Written by Concubhar Ó Liatháin and posted on TheJournal.ie

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme