Mid Ulster Arts Showcase

A month long celebration of music, drama, art, song, exhibitions and family entertainment will shine a light on the local arts scene in Mid Ulster for the third year in a row.

Taking place from 1 to 31 March 2025, the Mid Ulster Arts Showcase will include renowned acts The Muddlers Club, local folk band, Tiny Green Island and performances from local traditional musicians Michael Conlon and Deirbhile Canavan, children from the Traditional Music in Schools Programme with Donald Canavan (supported through Mid Ulster District Council Arts Programme) and talented Irish dancer, Niamh Fox who is current Irish National Champion and Ulster Champion.

Tempest, a powerful ensemble of traditional Irish musicians from Ulster will be in concert in The Square Box in Dungannon on 21 March to bring Seachtain na Gaeilge to a close.

Enjoy St. Patrick’s Celebrations in Mid Ulster

Celebrate St Patrick's Day in Mid Ulster and experience music, entertainment, and fun for all the family. The annual St. Patrick’s Celebration Concert will take place in The Burnavon Theatre on 7 March, compered by Malachi Cush and headlined by local Irish Trad and Folk band, Tiny Green Island. The concert will showcase local talent and include performances from local traditional musicians Michael Conlon and Deirbhile Canavan, children from the Traditional Music in Schools Programme with Donald Canavan (supported through Mid Ulster District Council Arts Programme) and talented Irish dancer, Niamh Fox who is current Irish National Champion and Ulster Champion.

Enjoy St. Patrick's Day on Hill of The O’Neill, Dungannon on 17 March, at a free family fun day. Festivities commence at 1.30pm; there will be live folk, and traditional Irish music, face painting, arts, and crafts and much more. Headlining this year’s celebrations are traditional folk band, The Muddlers Club!

Celebrate the Irish Language

Seachtain Na Gaeilge events take place across the district in a celebration of culture, music, and the Irish language. Déaglán Ó Doibhlin, Irish Language Development Officer for Mid Ulster District Council will deliver a talk on ‘Irish Surnames - An exploration of their meanings and origins’ in The Square Box in Dungannon on 4 March as part of a series of Seachtain na Gaeilge events.

An exhibition on ‘The Irish Language Revival’ presented by Conradh na Gaeilge will be on display on the first-floor exhibition space of the The Burnavon Theatre during the month of March as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Tempest, a powerful ensemble of traditional Irish musicians from Ulster will be in concert in The Square Box in Dungannon on 21 March to bring Seachtain na Gaeilge to a close.

Performances, Talks and Events

Cookstown Youth Choir is delighted to welcome as special guest, Peter Corry for a concert at the Burnavon Theatre on Saturday 1 March 2025. With violinist Plunkett McGartland, traditional musician Oisin McCann, and the Youth Choir’s varied programme, this concert promises to be an evening of top-quality entertainment.

Dr James O’Neill’s talk at Hill of The O’Neill, focuses on battlefields across South Tyrone, and will examine a timeline stretching from the early Christian period to the Battle of Benburb in 1646 and will include an examination of the sites associated with the Nine Years’ War, in particular, the Battle of the Yellow Ford in 1598.

Celebrate International Women’s Day in style with Ursula McHugh and her host of special guests. ‘Real Women Big Lives’ is the brainchild of photographer and community activist Sheila Fairon. Her aim is to raise the profile of women in the arts in the North of Ireland, women whom Sheila describes as brilliant in their own right, but under the radar.

Join Jay Rayner, at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, in conversation with writer and chef Paula McIntyre, for a culinary celebration through the stories, not just of the food itself, but of the people, the places and the moments that have shaped his career.

Kieran Goss, considered one of Ireland's leading singer/songwriters, in collaboration with Annie Kinsella and in particular their joint debut album "Oh, The Starlings" are returning home and returning to the Helicon for what promises to be a very special show, presenting many new, and as yet, unreleased songs.

Workshops

Are you interested in reading more contemporary Irish poetry but aren’t quite sure where to start? Then why not come along to Seamus Heaney HomePlace for this relaxed session hosted by poet Niamh McNally, who will lead a discussion around two wonderful recent collections from leading poets.

The Mid Ulster Arts Showcase will include a series of arts and crafts workshops across the district such as Mothers Day craft workshops and Easter Willow Wreath Making.

Exhibitions

Immerse yourself in the multi award-winning exhibition at Seamus Heaney HomePlace or uncover the stories, artefacts, and archaeology of Hill of The O’Neill & Ranfurly House at any time throughout the month of March.

What’s on for children?

Joe the Magician from RTÉjr is bringing his spectacular children’s comedy magic and illusion show to The Burnavon on the 2 March for one afternoon of mind boggling fun!