Irish Film Festival 2025
| The 2025 Irish Film Festival is on sale now We’re proud to present our annual Irish Film Festival, for lovers of film and Ireland across Australia. With stories ranging from laugh-out-loud comedies, heartfelt family dramas and gripping psychological thrillers, to award-winning documentaries and intimate portraits of iconic musicians, artists and political changemakers, our 2025 program captures the extraordinary breadth and boldness of Irish storytelling today. Make a weekend of it at your local cinema, or watch over the month from home – the choice is yours. Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 OCTOBER Chauvel Cinema SYDNEY Friday 17 – Sunday 19 OCTOBER Palace Barracks BRISBANE Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 OCTOBER The Kino MELBOURNE Friday 31 OCTOBER – Sunday 2 NOVEMBER Palace Electric CANBERRA Friday 7 – Sunday 9 NOVEMBER Palace Raine Square PERTH |
Thanks to the Irish Film Festival, Enda Murray and team, for these notices.
What’s On at the Celtic Club Melbourne
The Celtic Club is proud to be a sponsor of the Irish Film Festival this year and excited to host an online streaming session of the film ‘Froggie’ in the well appointed and comfortable surrounds of the Members Bar at the Wild Geese, Thursday 9th October.
Members Bar – Online Screening!
Tickets from $16.50:
Ticket price includes complimentary drink on arrival. We are also offering Dinner + Movie packages – click below for more details.
‘Froggie’ is the first of two Online Screenings at the at the Celtic Club, Wild Geese Hotel – Click below for our online screening at the club of our second film, The Spin on Wednesday 22nd October.
Win Double Pass to Gerry Adams!
Register for either of our two Celtic Club online screenings of ‘Froggie’ or ‘The Spin’ and go into a draw to win a Double Pass to the Gerry Adams film, showing Friday 24th October at Kino Cinema!
For more details on the 2025 Irish Film Festival – click here!
The Celtic Club is an organization that celebrates and supports pride in Irish heritage and culture, as well as the broader Celtic community. We provide opportunities for our members and guests to benefit from, learn about, and enjoy Gaelic language, Irish music, art, culture, and more.
For further information please visit us here:https://www.celticclub.com.au/whats-on
Ceoltóirí Naarm
This group of very young and very talented musicians are worth supporting.
‘SEANG (HUNGERING)’ BOOK LAUNCH By Anne Casey
Sunday 26th October starting 2:00 pm for 2:30 pm at Gleebooks, Sydney.
To celebrate the Celtic Feast of Samhain, the Prankqueans in partnership with the Government of Ireland present the launch of ‘Seang (Hungering)’ poetry collection by Anne Casey. To commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Great Irish Famine, this collection of award-winning poetry poignantly reclaims the human story behind the lost history of a group of rebel girls who were daughters of Irish famine refugees to Australia.
With Special Guest, Marrawarra and Barkindji Elder, Brendan Kerin, this event features an introduction by museum curator, Julie McFarland; a poetry reading by Anne Casey; and music by classical harpist/composer, Cliona Molins and violinist/vocalist, Jacqui McPhee. Irish artist, Anthony Quinn will discuss the Celtic mythology and artistic inspiration behind his cover illustration for the book.
A sample of Anne’s poetry from the book was published recently by Tinteán and is available to read here.
SOME RESPONSES TO THE BOOK SO FAR:
“an important contribution to a vital conversation on hunger, migration and displacement” – President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins
‘through risk-taking, and the dazzling spell of poetry, this book brings us face-to-face with what we should never turn away from: the sinister effects of colonialism and the power structures that destabilise our abilities to act humanely.’ – Judith Beveridge, poet, editor, academic, Prime Minister’s Poetry Prize winner
‘Casey’s poised, lyrical poems offer a searing archive of the female experience that is shot through everywhere with her sensitivity to the image, line and music.’ – Professor Sarah Holland-Batt, poet, academic, Prime Minister’s Literary Award winner
‘a furious, graceful, and deeply moving work of literary witness.’ – Professor Eamonn Wall, poet, academic, Smurfit-Stone Professor of Irish Studies, University of Missouri-St Louis
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: https://gleebooks.com.au/event/samhain-seang/
Gaeilge Brisbane agus Preab Ghaeltacht Brisbane
Gach coicís, tagann grúpa díograiseach le chéile chun gaeilge a labhairt agus ceangal a dhéanamh leis an gcultúr i gciorcal comhrá in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Is ciorcal é seo ina bhfuil neart léibhéil agus tá fáilte roimh éinne ina bhfuil suim acu sa teanga agus a bhfuil fonn orthu an méid gaeilge atá acu a úsáid. Ciorcal sóisialta, cairdiúil, neamhfhoirmiúil atá ann agus tá beim ar an labhairt ach go háirid.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá Preab Ghaeltacht ar siúl i Gilhooley’s Bar ar gach Domhnach deireannach den mhí. Buail isteach agus usáid an méid geailge atá agat!
Breis eolais le fáil anseo.
Each fortnight, a committed and enthusiastic group convene at Woolloongabba, Brisbane, to connect with the Irish language and culture. The group consists of many levels of fluency and all who are interested in the language and wish to speak are very welcome. It is an informal, friendly, social group with an emphasis on connection and on using the language.
Furthermore, a Pop-Up Gaeltacht convene on the last Sunday of the month at Gilhooley’s Bar, Brisbane for the same purpose. Come and join and put your Irish language to work!
See here for more information.
Sunday sessions (Canberra Irish Club)
Musicians and singers are invited to express their talents and to entertain patrons of the Canberra Irish Club on Sundays from 2- 4pm
Find out more here
Lake School of Celtic Music, Song & Dance – 2 -7 January 2026
Bookings are open for the 2026 Lake School of Celtic Music, Song & Dance! This fantastic,
family oriented event, modelled on the Willie Clancy Summer School, runs from 2 – 7
January every year in Koroit. Workshops all day, seisiúns and concerts at night. Great craic
for the whole family! An earlybird 10% discount applies for bookings prior to 31 August. For
the 2026 program and booking: https://lakeschool.com.au.
Comhaltas Irish Dance Weekend in Queenscliff – 16 -18 January 2026
We’re excited to welcome Paul Carras our special guest tutor. Meet & greet on the Friday night, workshops and céilís on Saturday and Sunday. Music by the Melbourne Comhaltas Band. Prices range from $20 for just the Sunday céilí to $55 for the full weekend. Limited accommodation available at the Whitehall Guest House. For more info., contact Johanna O’Reilly at 0428 564 266 or jtor3501@gmail.com
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2026 Canberra Irish Language Summmer School January 24-26
The Canberra Irish Language Association (CILA) is running a three day summer school, Scoil Samhraidh Canberra, over the Australia Day long weekend 24 to 26 January 2026.
Scoil Samhraidh Canberra 2026 is an immersive course of Irish language and ‘craic’ (fun) over the Australia Day Long Weekend. Come and improve your Irish language skills with teachers from Ireland and Australia.
The key activity of the weekend will be Irish language classes.
Other Irish activities provide a break in a friendly atmosphere. These include opening with the official reception on the Friday night (all attendees are invited), followed on subsequent evenings with singing, tin whistle, music and dance. Informal sessions continue until late. Come and join the fun. Bring your instrument and join in!
The school is open to adults from across Australia:
- complete newcomers to the Irish language
- those who want to improve their Irish, for example those who learned it at school
- fluent speakers who want to meet to converse in Irish and to help others learn.
There will be classes at four (or perhaps more) levels to suit the Irish language skills of the participants.
A long weekend of Gaeilge, culture and craic!
Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St, Weston, ACT
Earl bird prices until 1st November
Dates:
Welcome Reception Friday 23 January (6:30pm to 8:00pm) at:
To be confirmed. Please see your welcome e-mail closer to the event.
Scoil Samhraidh 10am Saturday 24 January to 5:30pm on Monday 26 January 2026 (Australia Day).
Timetable
The Scoil Samhraidh Timetable (draft) will be attached to your Weclome Email before the event.
Registration and orientation
Registration and orientation is from 4:30pm on Friday 23 January 2026. At the Canberra Irish Club.
Accommodation: This is a non-residential course. Prospective attendees should book their accommodation before paying their fees for Scoil Samhraidh.
Advice on accommodation options is available on request.
Meals:
Your fees for the school cover morning and afternoon teas only. Lunch, dinner and refreshments will be available for purchase from the Canberra Irish Club, or from one of the many restaurants at the nearby Weston Creek Shopping Centre
Costs:
Weekend: $240
Early Bird Discount! $228
Last Minute Booking $252 (within 7 days of the event)
Tinteán 