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Date: 21/06/2019 | Ref. 806394
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 21st June 2019
Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
File an Phobail 2019 August Festival Programme launch at Conway Mill in west Belfast.
Left to right. Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane and Michael Conlan
PRESS RELEASE
ON BEHALF OF FILE AN PHOBAIL
For media enquiries please contact Sen Duffy on 07554010922 or email sean@evolvecpa.com
Boxing Star Michael Conlan launches File an Phobail 2019 August Festival Programme
Boxing star Michael Conlan today launched this years File an Phobails August festival programme, along with Belfast Mayor John Finucane, at a packed Conway Mill on Belfasts Falls Road.
Opening the launch event, Belfast Mayor John Finucane said:
For more than 30 years, organisers of File an Phobail have worked tirelessly to create a diverse, open and inclusive festival which celebrates the richness and diversity of Belfasts culture and communities.
Im delighted that Belfast City Council is one of the principal funders of this festival. What started out as a small but bold community festival three decades ago, has grown into a highly anticipated and important event on the citys festival calendar, attracting thousands of people each and every year, not just from across the city but across the world.
File an Phobail brings West Belfast to life, with a unique offering of events and activities which entertain, educate and challenge.
Its reputation continues to go from strength to strength and the positive economic impact it has on our city is fantastic.
This years packed festival programme has something for everyone to enjoy. The wide variety of acts and events showcases an incredible depth of talent across music, drama and the arts.
Visitors can look forward to performances by world-renowned music stars, debates, exhibitions, plays, sporting events, family and community events, and much more.
I want to wish all of the festival organisers and participants the best of luck in the time ahead. I have no doubt they will deliver another fantastic festival, showcasing the best of Belfast.
File Director Kevin Gamble said:
We are delighted that local boxing hero Michael Conlan was here to launch our August File programme of events today along with the Mayor of Belfast John Finucane.
Over the years, File an Phobail has developed enormously and is now the biggest community arts festival in Ireland, with hundreds of events taking place right across the City throughout the course of the festival.
We have concerts, drama, art exhibitions, debates and discussions, lectures, carnival parades, parties in the park, sport, visual arts with an attendance of over 80,000 for our events.
This year is a particularly exciting year for File because for the first time we will be holding four open air events in our Falls Park event space with an overall capacity of over 40,000 people.
One of the major highlights of File will be the Michael Conlan v Vladimir Nikitin fight night in the Falls Park which will be a complete sell-out, and will be televised live on ESPN+, BT Sport and other channels across the world. A massive opportunity to showcase Belfast!
Michael Conlan is an absolute hero here in Belfast for his incredible Olympic achievements and his remarkable rise since he turned professional.
On the back of their sell out arena tour, Boyzone will also be appearing in concert at File in the Falls Park on Saturday 10th August, we have a massive free File Dance Night taking place on Thursday 8th August, and famous Irish singer and songwriter Phil Coulterwill be appearing live at Clonard Monastery on Tuesday 6th August for what will be another special occasion at this fantastic venue.
Also, we were honoured today to present the Ballymurphy Massacre families with the Spirit of File award for the determination and commitment they have shown to achieve the truth about the massacre of their loved ones in August 1971.
File, from its outset in 1988, has sought to display and showcase the positives of West Belfast and the incredible talent and creativity that comes from that.
This year we will have the biggest File ever with around 400 events and we hope you can all join us, take part, enjoy, and celebrate the fantastic community that we have.
Irish boxing star Michael Conlan was the main speaker at the launch and said:
Im delighted to have been asked to speak today at the launch of File an Phobails August Programme.
I cant believe how many events the festival delivers. They really do put Belfast on the map!
The work that File does in communities across Belfast is fantastic, and each year they develop initiatves that not only bring communities together, but showcase the positive side of Belfast on an international stage.
This August there are over 400 events in 30 different venues.
Thats unbelievable.
Ive attended File for many years now as have my family and my friends.
Its brilliant and the build up to it and the atmosphere it creates Is something else.
I love this community and the people in it.
People have supported me and backed me and encouraged me and it really means a lot to me.
Last year Kevin Gamble said what about fighting in the Falls Park next year and we said lets talk about it.
And before we knew it, it all just began to come together.
The work that MTK Global and my brother Jamie have put in, Top Rank Boxing and the legendary Bob Arum who visited the park a few weeks ago, Kevin Gamble and the File team has been phenomenal.
They made the Falls Park Fight Night on Saturday 3rd August happen.
And what an event it promises to be.
The build-up has been amazing.
I cant wait.
Im working hard.
Im focused.
I know I am going to deliver a night for Belfast to remember.
The thought of a sold out Falls Park outdoor arena being beamed live across the world.
Its just incredible.
Not only is Belfast going to experience a great night as part of File, the world is literally going to see File and Belfast at its best, from the US, Canada, Russia, Germany and further afield.
And the support I have had and all the other fantastic boxers who will be fighting on the undercard have had has been massive.
Some of them are here today.
This is a big opportunity and a huge occasion for all of us.
We are proud that this is at File and proud that it is in the heart of West Belfast in the Falls Park.
And we want to give all of you a night to remember - I know we will give you all a night to remember.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today and see you all in the Park on August 3rd!
FILE HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights for this Augusts festival, which runs from Thursday 1st to Sunday 11th August, include:
- Comedy Night with Jake OKane and Tim McGarry Friday 2nd August 7pm, The Devenish, Finaghy Road North
- Michael Conlan v Vladimir Nikitin File Fight Night - Saturday 3rd August 5pm, Falls Park, Falls Road
- Teddy Bears Picnic - Sunday 4th August 2-4pm, Dunville Park, Falls Road
- Lets Talk Politics - Monday 5th August 7pm, St Marys University College, Falls Road
- The Leaders Debate - Tuesday 6th August 7pm, St Marys University College, Falls Road
- Phil Coulter live at Clonard Monastery Tuesday 6th August 7pm, Clonard Street
- The Big Youth Debate with Stephen Nolan - Wednesday 7th August 1pm, St Louises School, Falls Road
- West Belfast Talks Back Wednesday 7th August 7pm, St Louises School, Falls Road
- File Dance Night - Thursday 8th August 3pm, Falls Park, Falls Road
- File Carnival Parade - Saturday 10th August 12pm Departs Dunville Park, Falls Road
- Party in the Park - Saturday 10th August 1pm-3.30pm, Falls Park, Falls Road
- Boyzone - Saturday 10th August 6pm, Falls Park, Falls Road
- The Annual James Connolly Lecture - With British Labour Party Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP - Date and Venue TBC
ENDS
