48 previous festivals · one community archive

A stroll down
memory lane.

Every Éigse brochure is a small time capsule: familiar names, fascinating subjects and occasions that brought the community together.

Éigse Sliabh Rua has presented the history, folklore, traditions and music of Slieverue and its environs since 1978. As the archive grows, this page will bring together programmes from all 48 previous festivals—preserving the talks, outings, concerts, films and shared discoveries of each year.

The archive is growing. More brochures will be added as they are digitised. These are historical programmes: the dates, admission prices and contact details printed in them relate to past events. Visit the current festival section.

07–15 November 2025

2025

Railways, archaeology and local memories.

The programme featured Jonathan Beaumont on the North Wexford railway, James Eogan on archaeology and landscape in south Kilkenny, and a screening of A Ramble on the Railway.

Programme highlights
  • Official opening by Tom McSweeney.
  • A history of the North Wexford Railway Line — Jonathan Beaumont.
  • Archaeology and Landscape in South Kilkenny — James Eogan.
  • Railway film, discussion moderated by Jack Burtchaell and old local photographs.
  • Glenmore village walking tour with Dr Kathleen Moore Walsh.
  • Éigse Mass and school events with Katherine Grant.

The walking-tour date is printed as “Saturday 18th”, outside the brochure’s stated festival dates. The original is preserved here as supplied.

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Original Éigse Sliabh Rua 2025 festival programme. A readable summary is provided alongside.
2025 festival programme · original supplied copy
15–24 November 2024

2024

Sport, emigration and the Irish Army.

From the Tailteann Games to the Irish navvy, this programme explored history and memory alongside an outing to the Dunbrody Famine Ship.

Programme highlights
  • Official opening by Sean Nugent.
  • The Tailteann Games: Myth, History and Memory — Paul Rouse.
  • Taking the Boat — Ultan Cowley.
  • The 1924 Irish Army Mutiny — John Dorney.
  • Visit to the Dunbrody Famine Ship and Emigration Exhibition.
  • Éigse Mass and local-history school talks with Katherine Grant.
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Original Éigse Sliabh Rua 2024 programme, with talks by Paul Rouse, Ultan Cowley and John Dorney.
2024 festival programme · original supplied copy
10–18 November 2023

2023

River journeys and stories from Waterford and Glenmore.

Andrew Doherty explored a nineteenth-century river journey, Dr Pat McCarthy discussed Waterford’s civil wars, and Dr Kathleen Moore Walsh presented selected murders in Glenmore.

Programme highlights
  • Official opening by John O’Callaghan.
  • Snowhill to Waterford by boat: A 19th century view — Andrew Doherty.
  • Waterford and its two civil wars, 1922–1923 — Dr Pat McCarthy.
  • Selected murders in Glenmore — Dr Kathleen Moore Walsh.
  • Guided tour of the Wake Museum.
  • Éigse Mass and school talks with Katherine Grant.
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Original Éigse Sliabh Rua 2023 festival programme, with river history, civil-war history and Glenmore stories.
2023 festival programme · original supplied copy
24–27 November 2020

2020

A festival brought together online.

The 2020 programme moved to Zoom, with three evenings exploring Slieverue’s past, its historic sites and its railway.

Programme highlights
  • 24 November: Slieverue and environs in the 1820s — Jack Burtchaell.
  • 26 November: A Virtual Tour of Slieverue — Breda Lynch.
  • 27 November: A ramble on the railway — Katherine Grant.

The supplied copy is a screenshot of the brochure layout, including editing marks.

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Supplied screenshot of the 2020 brochure, showing its covers and three online events.
2020 brochure layout · supplied screenshot
08–17 November 2019

2019

Talks, music, remembrance and outings.

The programme brought together the Fethard-on-Sea boycott, Bloody Sunday and the Four Courts, alongside visits to Kilkenny Castle and Curraghmore House.

Programme highlights
  • Official opening by John O’Connor.
  • The Fethard-on-Sea Boycott — Dr Eugene Broderick.
  • “We have murder by the throat”: Bloody Sunday — Liz Gillis.
  • The Battle of the Four Courts and the loss of Ireland’s public records — Michael Fewer.
  • Children’s outing to Kilkenny Castle and tour of Curraghmore House.
  • Éigse Mass, war memorial unveiling, interview with James McManus and a concert.
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Digital Éigse Sliabh Rua programme headed November 8th–17th 2019.
2019 festival programme · digital copy

Forty-eight previous Éigse festivals—and many more memories still to add.

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