Foyle Maritime Festival 2024 Programme

Here comes the Summer...

and we’re kicking the season off in style with our new look Foyle Maritime Festival! This bi-annual maritime festival returns to the River Foyle from Thursday 27th until Sunday 30th June with a packed programme of events, ships, on-water activities, feasting, music and animation for the whole family to enjoy.

The theme for this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival is ‘Beyond Blue’, in acknowledgement of the power and the poetry of our rivers, seas and oceans and the poignant relationship we have with them ~ one that reaches beyond the physical. It’s also a call for people to look beyond the horizon, see things from a different perspective and find new ways to meet the needs of society without causing further harm to these incredible natural assets.

A range of animation, installations, workshops and performances, influenced by this theme, will take place over the four days of the festival, with its ultimate embodiment unfolding in a spectacular showcase event, ‘Beyond Blue’, from 8pm until midnight on Saturday 29th June.

The Waterfront

A place where everything seems a little larger than life, the Waterfront is a must-see for boat enthusiasts of all ages. Sitting elegantly and commanding a dramatic presence, the two largest Tall Ships at this year’s event will be berthed here.

The Phoenix

A movie star in the Tall Ship world, The Phoenix is a firm festival favourite and the cover star of this year’s programme.

Irene

Brocklebank

Making its debut at the festival, we are thrilled to welcome Tall Ship Irene. Built on 1907, Irene has seen many dramatic adventures sailing the Atlantic Ocean transporting olive oil, coffee and cocoa as part of the ‘New Dawn Traders’ to working as a charter vessel in the Caribbean.

The Brocklebank Tugboat, built in 1965, will also welcome guests aboard to hear about the mechanics and fascinating history of this hardworking vessel. The vessel’s guardians are a bunch of charming sailors - now retiredwho are an event in their own right! Dave and his team are bringing a Morse Code machine with workshops for any interested code breakers out there!

In addition to the ships above we also plan to feature several navy boats at the jetty. All of the above vessels will provide daily tours from 12noon until 8pm latest. Times will be staggered to accommodate breaks and ensure several boats can be visited at any one time. No booking necessary - come and queue on arrival.

Derry’s favourite Circus and Street Arts festival, produced by local legends ‘In Your Space Circus’ is BACK and this year they’re dropping anchor at Foyle Maritime Festival 2024!

In Your Space Circus (IYSC) has gathered up a boatload of circus chaos and will be taking over the Quay with some INCREDIBLE circus treats! Expect astounding acrobatics, shoreside silliness and the biggest beach-ball you’ve ever laid your eyes on! And as an extra special treat, IYSC have teamed up with Foyle Maritime Festival to bring the inimitable No Fit State to our shores with the Irish Premiere of their new show ~ Bamboo. Expect a spectacular high-skill circus production using only bamboo and human bodies!

And make sure to stop by the ‘Baby Top Boardwalk’ to try your hand at circus skills, get your face painted (mine’s a mermaid please) or join the ‘Jellyfish Jam’ disco! You lucky rubber duckys…

For the full programme check out In Your Space Circus and Carnival of Colours online.

Maritime Market

Savour the tastes and talent of our local bakers and crafters at our bespoke Maritime Market with award winning locally sourced produce and stunning hand-crafted goods. It’s the perfect opportunity to find that special something whether it’s a gift or you’re treating yourself, all while enjoying the best of our region’s natural and creative bounty. Open daily from 12noon until closing.

Play Me Piano Stage

Calling all budding concerto pianists to the Waterfront where talent unleashed will know no bounds! Our maritime melodies programme is in the hands of the people at this music station- well most of the time! Feel free to take a moment and share the music and good vibes when there isn’t a bespoke collaboration happening. Keep an eye on the rota for this one as we’re planning a few special surprises for these keys on the quay!

Pier 24

This bustling pier is the place to be with a setting of serene ships, the smell of delicious food, the pop of corks and some brilliant Balearic beats casting a chilled out vibe… you’re welcome!

LegenDerry Food Village: Great Place. Great Taste.

Whether you’re craving street food which packs a flavour punch or a chance to experience some local produce with live music and a relaxed vibe, we’ve got you covered.

The LegenDerry Food Village brings together the very best of the local businesses using the finest local, seasonal, sustainable produce and catch to create authentic international flavours with a local twist. From wood-fired pizza and smoked slow barbecued meats to local oysters and sweet treats, enjoy a unique food adventure along the city’s iconic riverfront. Come and join us. We are LegenDerry...

The Cove & Shoreside Sounds

Enjoy an intimate setting at our new festival bar ~ ‘The Cove’. Ambient Shoreside Sounds will deliver the perfect soundtrack with scheduled performances from our coolest local DJs as part of the festival’s Maritime Melodies programme.

Leader

Pirates’ Pontoon

We’ve found a new home for some of the beautiful ships attending the festival this year but are asking all attendees to be on their guard when in this area for there have been sightings of the odd pirate coming and going from the location over the last few weeks. Rumour has it that a Ghost Ship, invisible to the human eye, has dropped anchor somewhere on the river with the pontoon being used as a portal. Please report any sightings of a pirate to a member of staff immediately. Meanwhile don’t let that stop you from taking a tour around these beauties... Ahoy Me Hearties!

A traditionally rigged Tall Ship built in 1892, Leader now acts as a Sail Training vessel for young people around Ireland. Sailing into the festival on the morning of Friday 28th June, the ship arrives with an excited group of young people who will have sailed for the first time from Belfast and departs on Monday 1st July with another group from Derry who will make the journey back.

La Malouine

Originally thought to have been built in Poland in the 1960s, further investigation revealed that it may actually have been built by Russians in 1955. The ship was then converted to a Brigantine in 1992 by Dutch designer Olivier Van Meer using drawings. We’re delighted it’s making it’s debut at FMF this summer.

Klevia

Built in Denmark in 1936 for North Sea fishing, this ship has been restored and traditionally rigged as a Gaff Ketch and is registered as a sailing vessel in the UK. Another first for the festival, we can’t wait to welcome this beautiful boat into Foyle Port.

All of the vessels will provide daily tours from 12noon until 8pm. Times will be staggered to accommodate breaks and ensure several boats can be visited at any one time.

The Bay

As festival centre point, The Bay is packed with all of the site services and water activities expected. A natural hub and meeting point, this is where it all begins and ends every day.

Loughs Agency

Marine Machines & VR Experience

Go Below Blue in a virtual trip under the surface of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough and encounter a vibrant and eclectic range of marine life. Get up close to a basking shark, wonder at the specimen tank filled with starfish, crabs and anemones or try your skills at some virtual angling… this is maritime with a 21st century twist.

Water Activities

Anchor Stage

Note the location of this pop-up stage right in front of Council offices as one of the main stopping points for the range of street animation and roving performers we have scheduled. Highlights include; The Causeway Shantymen, The Starlets, Beyond Blue Flash Mob and Hello Sailor

First port of call for any water activity is the Water Registration Tent which is run by the Loughs Agency. A range of incredible tasters and tours are waiting for you to try. Access is via the pontoon gate adjacent to the tent and we have a changing tent close by for anyone literally taking the plunge and getting active on the River Foyle. Booking is required for several of these sessions but where possible we have left sessions open for walk ups.

The Bay

Starboard Stage & Bar featuring Maritime Melodies Programme

No trip to the festival is complete without taking time to enjoy the buzzing atmosphere of the Starboard Festival Bar listening to a fantastic array of acclaimed local and national musicians and performers. By the way we’ve flipped things around for ’24, drop by and see a whole new view of the riverfront.

Festival Family Hub

At #FMF24 everyone is a VIP, so our site facilities deliver to a standard everyone appreciates hence posh loos as we like to call them, are located in two of our festival zones with the largest set up here in the family festival hub. There’s also a Parent and Baby Changing Area, Quiet Time Sensory Room, Disabled Toilet, Picnic Tables, Showers and Water Activities Changing Tent.

Paddy McDonnell

Starboard Stage

Thurs 27th June • 9pm West Belfast comedian Paddy McDonnell who started his career supporting household names such as Des Bishop and Ardal O’Hanlon. Largely basing his comedy from tales of working as a taxi man to everyday tales of being a husband and father, Paddy has hosted The Empire’s “Belfast Laugh’s Back” comedy club and has previously sold-out solo headline shows at the likes of the SSE Arena, Ulster Hall and The Waterfront. Click here for more info

Acoustic Vibes • Arn • Bang Bike

Britannia Concert Band • Cathal Francis

Causeway Shantymen • Claragh Connor

Conleth McGeary • Dana Ali • Dana Masters

DJ Charlie Dillon • Darren Doherty

Emily McCormick • Finfan James • Flair

Gary Moran • Tiernan Heffron • High Dead End

Hugo Duncan, BBC • Inishowen Gospel Choir Jason

Cameron • Kila 5 • Leo Miyagee • Lydia Jackson

Mick Russell • NI Opera • Nora Jane • Ois Bosh

Polar Bolero • Queen & Disco • Rachel Mae Hannon

Radio Houston Project • Reevah • Roe

The Rosecaps • Ryan Hand • Savage Hearts

Spin That • String Empire • Telezura • Tessio

The Henry Girls • The Moodswings

Coney Island

Reminiscent of old seaside promenades this area is packed with family friendly entertainment including a supersize urban beach and stunning vintage funfair.

Science of Water: SOW

Venture into the Science of Water, beyond blue skies and seas, beyond your thoughts and imagination, beyond what your eyes can see, lots of fun with Lego ® creations, water splashing and investigations, storytelling, future thinking and innovation!

Beyond Blue, It’s up to You

A unique story telling session will take place in the SOW tent at 2pm daily. Children and adults alike will be transported to another world where they’re asked if they can be part of something very special.

Get Up Street Art Festival ~ Part 1

Watch Jeks, a top artist from the global street art scene, create a showstopping piece with a strong connection to our city. This will become a legacy piece and remain in place for many years to come for tourists and locals to enjoy. This will also go down as Northern Ireland’s tallest mural to date.

Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum ~

opening in 2026

Get a glimpse of what will be included in the galleries of the new DNA Museum and a sense of what life was like for the many women who worked in our shirt factories, the heartbeat of our city.

Explore the beautifully illustrated backdrop of the River Foyle and share your thoughts on the river and why this place is so special.

Immerse yourself in our rich heritage with the TIDE virtual reality experience.

Try out the Unpath’d Waters Navigator and learn about this ground-breaking threeyear research project aiming to unite the UK’s maritime collections. Trials include the creation of interactives to make researching our maritime past easier and more engaging.

DNA

Thursday - Saturday 12 noon ~ 9pm

Sunday • 12noon ~ 6pm

TIDE VR

Thursday - Sunday 12noon - 6pm

Boardwalk

Merchant Market

The Merchant Market brings an emporium of continental cuisine and a taste of the exotic to the festival, taking patrons on a culinary voyage across Europe and beyond the Silk Road to experience some of the finest culinary flavours in the world as well as a host of bespoke gifts and surprises.

Seahorse Boat Club

Marvel at the detailed model boats and test their sea-worthiness in our special pool. Will they sink or float?

*Only on Sunday

Urban Beach & Picnic Area

Relax in a deck chair, feel the sand between your toes, soak up the festival atmosphere, or get creative and build a sandcastle. The choice is yours! Plus, take advantage of our new picnic area, the perfect spot to chill out and enjoy a packed lunch or savor the delightful treats you’ve picked up from the market.

Beyond Blue: Imagine

Thursday & Friday • 6pm ~ 10pm Saturday • 8pm ~ Midnight

A dreamlike aerial display, delivered by two illuminated sea creatures will enchant visitors along the Boardwalk each evening. The riverscape will be transformed as these floating amphibians glide and dance across the sky, their ethereal presence a nod to the power and poetry of our oceans and seas. An invitation to imagine a world beyond blue.

The Happy Wheel

Enjoy the festival and riverfront from a brand new perspective courtesy of the Festival Big Wheel which is finally returning to the event after missing the last few editions of the festival! In fact it’s called the Happy Wheel and we’re very happy to introduce it in a new location along Queens Quay. It comes with its own light show which will be seen in all its glory when we do all things blue and lighting on showcase evening.

Boardwalk

Riding the Waves

27th ~ 29th June: 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm 30th June: 12noon, 2pm, 4pm, 5.30pm

Delivered by The Edge, we are delighted to present a high adrenalin wakeboarding show at the festival courtesy of some of Ireland’s greatest water sportsmen and women.

The team will consist of Paul Carroll, who was President of the Irish Water Ski and Wakeboard Federation, Nicolle Carroll, Ireland’s number one female Wakeboarder along with Robin Coates and Nico Sweeney who have been senior members of the Irish Wakeboard Team for many years. This is a fast paced, exhilarating water sport that combines surfing, water skiing and snowboarding techniques to deliver a range of breath taking mid-air tricks and displays that will enthral spectators.

Show times are 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm daily and last 40 minutes. Best viewing location is The Boardwalk.

Get Up Street Art Festival ~ Part 2

Join us from June 27th to 30th at the Foyle Maritime Festival to experience an explosion of colours and creativity. Bringing our second instalment of the ‘Get Up’ Street Art initiative to the Maiden City in 2024. Lower Clarendon Street will be the main hub with art, music, workshops and more. There will be additional art installations along the banks of the Foyle.

Beyond Blue Installations

Visitors will be treated to a series of larger than life illuminated installations located along the riverfront during Thursday and Friday which will increase in numbers and luminosity for the Showcase event on Saturday. A giant octopus and majestic sea horses are among the pieces that will be enjoyed especially by our smallest visitors. All creatures are courtesy of North West Carnival Group and Artastic.

Festival Showcase

Beyond Blue

Saturday 29th June

8pm ~ 12 midnight

Our festival showcase is the highlight event of the Foyle Maritime Festival and this year we’ve dreamed up a beautiful collage of sights and sounds inspired by the festival theme ‘Beyond Blue’.

A unique choral event entitled ‘A Dusk Chorus’ will begin proceedings at 8pm when a selection of choirs and folk groups sing collectively along the banks of the Foyle. As dusk descends the quays will transform into a vibrant theatrical riverscape with specially lit Tall Ships anchoring out in the river creating a stunning backdrop for a bespoke light and fire show commencing at 9pm. Experience a night filled with dazzling lights, roaring fires, majestic tall ships, vibrant fireworks, flying fish and colourful illuminated sea creatures. Let us take you on a journey that stretches beyond blue, beyond the horizon and immerses you in a world where the power and poetry of the ocean is celebrated.

Don’t miss this breathtaking event that promises to captivate and inspire.

Sea Change, Be the Change FMF24

Water Stations

There will be 4 water stations at the festival located as follows;

1. Corner of Quayside, Lower Clarendon Street ~ Boardwalk

2. DRD Car Park ~ Coney Island

3. Council Offices, Fletcher Ave ~ The Bay

4. Legenderry Food Village ~ Pier 24

Bring your water bottle or recycle a plastic juice bottle you purchased previously and fill up as you like.

Switch to Repair

@ The Bay: Starboard Bar and Stage 12noon - 4pm

Bring your broken electricals to our Repair Café where our team of volunteers will try to nurse them back to health. Run by Repair Café Foyle in partnership with Council, and funded by Material Focus, this event aims to encourage the public to repair household items, saving them from landfill and saving people money. Textiles and toys can also be repaired at the pop-up café.

Beyond the Shore

Derry Girls 90’s Disco

Saturday 29th June 12noon ~ 2pm

We have a MASSIVE weekend of events at Ebrington Square!

Locoland

Friday 28th June

Bingo Loco bring Locoland to Derry headlined by Megstars, Example and The Vengaboys. Tickets available via www.bingoloco.com.

Jika Jika Festival

Saturday 29th June

The Jika Jika Festival with Ewan McVicar, Special Request, Eclair Fifi and Caoimhe bring their unique sounds and energy to the Square. Grab your ticket from https://jikajika. net/ebrington-square/

Jika Jika Festival

Sunday 30th June

Complete a weekend of dance with the festival finale. US Multi Platinum recording artists, Sister Sledge make their debut in Derry. Tickets at skiddle.com/e/38296472.

Join us at the Guildhall for a familyfriendly throwback disco. Dust off your best 90s outfits and show off your retro style as we dance to classic hits that defined a generation. Whether you’re reliving your best years or experiencing the 90s vibe for the first time, this promises fun for all ages. Don’t miss out on the chance to party like it’s 1999!

Le Foyer des Artistes

Friday 28th June

Enjoy the Mid Summer Gala Concert, the culmination of the Concert Series at Saint Columb’s Hall. The winner of the St Columb’s Hall Concerto Prize returns to play Mozart’s Piano Concerto K414. Get your tickets at www.lefoyerdesartistes.com.

Liam O’Maonlaí

Saturday 29th June

St. Augustine’s Church

Music Capital presents Ireland’s favourite Celtic son, frontman of the International folk-pop superstars, Hothouse Flowers. Tickets at eventbrite.com.

Beyond Blue ~ Be The Change

We’re steering our ship towards a GREENER horizon.

We have made a commitment to Plastic-Free Celebrations by:

• A complete ban on single-use plastics

• Water stations to quench your thirst sustainably

• A cup deposit and return scheme at festival bars

• Mindful Management

• Strict waste management and recycling guidelines for all traders

• No printed programmes ~ all information is available digitally

• A reduction in our carbon footprint with the introduction of new Festival logistical initiatives

• More eco-friendly energy sources

• Curtailing international participation by 10% to reduce overseas travel emissions.