Féile na gCloch 2025 takes place on Inis Oírr from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 September. Each year this stone festival brings people to the island to celebrate the craft of stonework and the culture that surrounds it.
Workshops and Learning by Doing
The festival is built around hands-on workshops:
- Dry stone wall building, set among the island’s famous limestone walls.
- Stone carving and letter carving, guided by master craftspeople.
- On-location sketch outs, including capturing the Plassy shipwreck
- Lime mortar demonstrations, showing how traditional skills continue to safeguard our heritage.
Whether you’re a seasoned stonemason or simply curious, there’s a place for you here. You can view the full schedule in the Féile na gCloch 2025 brochure
Talks, Films and Exhibitions
This year’s talks and films range from local history to international exchanges. Highlights include Inis Oírr – A History Written in Stone, narrated by islander Cathleen Ní Chonghaile, and perspectives on stone heritage from Jeju Island, Korea.
Áras Éanna hosts two special exhibitions: Echoes of the Isles, exploring Atlantic island heritage through art, and Áras Éanna@25, celebrating 25 years of creative exchange on Inis Oírr. You can read more about Áras Éanna and its story here
Our Island of Stone and UNESCO Recognition
Stone is at the heart of Inis Oírr. The bóithríní (little lanes) wind between dry stone walls that have stood for generations, shaping both the landscape and the way we live on it.
In 2024, Ireland’s tradition of dry stone walling was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. We’ve written before about what this recognition means for the island. Féile na gCloch brings that heritage to life, letting visitors not just look at the walls but build, carve, and sketch alongside them.
For us at Rothaí Inis Oírr, this festival connects closely with what we share every day. When you cycle across the island, the walls guide your route and frame every view. Féile na gCloch is a celebration of that same heritage, showing how stone continues to inspire both craft and community.
If you’re joining the festival this September, we’d be glad to help you hire a bike to explore between workshops — following the stone walls that tell the story of Inis Oírr.