Vegan fest in Rathvilly celebrated food, music, art and wellness 

THREE days of music, food, art, wellness and family activities brought Féile Vegan to life at Lisnavagh estate near Rathvilly recently as visitors celebrated plant-based living, creativity and community.

From Friday to Sunday, 14-16 August, the grounds and surrounding woodland of Lisnavagh were transformed into a vibrant festival site, with live music, international speakers, wellness activities, children's entertainment, independent traders, food stalls, not-for-profit organisations and an art trail running through the woods.

Now in its second year, Féile Vegan is developing into something much broader than a traditional food festival. Veganism may be at its heart, but the weekend brought together music lovers, families, artists, wellness enthusiasts, environmentalists, foodies and people curious to experience something different.

“We wanted Féile Vegan to feel like a proper festival – somewhere you could come for the music, bring your family, eat incredible food, wander through the woods, hear an inspiring talk, do some yoga and meet people,” said Darragh O'Connor, director of Féile Vegan.

“We wanted people to be able to come to Féile Vegan and discover things they wouldn't necessarily encounter at a mainstream festival,” he continued. “Whether that's a small Irish business, an animal sanctuary, an artist, a musician or an organisation doing incredible work, there's something really special about bringing all of those people together in one place. You didn't have to be vegan to enjoy Féile Vegan. Everyone was welcome and that sense of openness and community was really important to us.”