Organisation already underway for the Mary from Dungloe Arts Festival '24

This year’s Mary from Dungloe Arts Festival provided great entertainment for the younger generation while creating an atmosphere that reminded the older generation of how the festival used to be. 

The co-director of the festival Gavin Doherty said he is delighted with how the ten-day festival went adding that it could never have been achieved without the support and hard work of international singing star Daniel O’Donnell, the committee and the sub-committees. 

“Everyone was a huge support - everybody played their part. We are delighted with how things went this year and we have already began to look at bits and pieces for next year’s festival,” he said. 

Both co-directors Gavin Boyle and Pat Nóra Doherty have received huge praise and recognition for their work in relation to the festival. It was Kinncasslagh singer Daniel O’Donnell who brought the team together having approached them last year and asked them to spearhead this year’s festival. 

Social media played a pivotal role in this year’s festival and this year their social media presence increased by 350% thanks to Emer Walsh who is currently studying media marketing in Athlone came on board as a volunteer. 

“She played a blinder, anything we threw at her she got it done,” Gavin said.

On Sunday, the main street in Dungloe was thronged and what made this year’s festival even better was that even when it rained, people could go inside the marquee or the bars where events were being held. 

Gavin was high in his praise also for Daniel O’Donnell, he said: “He is phenomenal,” adding that when the singer joined the Tumbling Paddies on stage the crowd went wild.

"He played a huge part in the festival - even down to the crowning cabaret - no one else could do it like him,” he said.  

Adele Morgan was crowned the 2023 Mary from Dungloe and Gavin said she was a deserving recipient: “Adele is lovely really, really lovely. All those who took part were lovely as well - they were not competitive and very supportive of each other but there can only be one winner.”

Dubai’s very first Mary, Adele, who is originally from Glasgow, was chosen by the judges whom Gavin said did not have an easy job. The adjudicators were Crona Byrne, Greg Hughes, Celine Powell, Paddy Ferry and Moya McCole.

Gavin was delighted to receive positive feedback from those who have been familiar with the festival for many years: “It was great to hear people say ‘it now seems like the old festival we grew up.’”

Gavin said he learnt a lot during the festival which they can build on for next year. “There was something for everybody. We have already begun working on next year’s festival.”