New group bids to rescue Clonmany Festival after departure of organising committee

A new committee is in the process of being formed to save the Clonmany Festival, one of the most successful country music events in all of Ireland.

The development comes following the decision of the existing committee to step down en masse, amid reports of volunteer festival organisers having registered correspondence sent to their homes.

Now, a ‘Positive Group of Clonmany People’ appears ready to step into the void and rescue the 2026 festival, allaying the fears of many that it had been in serious jeopardy.

In a statement, the new group praised the outgoing committee and pledged to do everything in its power to keep the festival going, with just 19 weeks until the beginning of August, when it’s traditionally held.

A group spokesperson explained the latest: “As many of you may have heard, the Clonmany Festival is currently under serious pressure and, as things stand, there is a real possibility it may not go ahead in 2026.”

“This is something that deeply concerns us all. A festival that has been at the heart of our community for generations should never be lost, and the thought of it not happening is something we are genuinely worried about.”

“Before anything else, we want to take a moment to thank the previous committee for their continued hard work and commitment over the years. What they have done for Clonmany is truly amazing and does not go unnoticed. The time, effort, and dedication they have given to the festival and the town is something we are all incredibly grateful for.”

“However, we want to reassure everyone that a small but committed team is now coming together with one goal, which is to do everything we can to try and get this year’s Clonmany Festival up and running.”

They added: “We won’t pretend it’s going to be easy. There is a lot of work ahead, and time is not on our side. But we are willing to step up, put in the effort, and fight to keep this incredible tradition alive.”

“We ask for the support of the whole community, businesses, councillors, volunteers, and anyone who cares about the future of the festival because it will take all of us to make this happen.”

“We’ll keep you updated as things progress, and we truly hope we can keep the Clonmany Festival going this year, for the betterment of the Inishowen peninsula.”