Following a successful Festival in 2025, Féile John Ford returns for a second year to An Spidéal, Co. Galway, from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th of September, to pay tribute to one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, John Ford, and celebrate his connection to the West of Ireland and Cois Fharraige.
Born John Martin O’Feeney in Portland, Maine to Galway parents, Ford’s father hailed from Tuar Beag, half a mile west of An Spidéal, while his mother came from Coill Rua nearby. Throughout his life, Ford maintained strong ties to Ireland, regularly visiting An Spidéal and later transforming Connemara into the unforgettable backdrop for his Oscar-winning 1952 classic, The Quiet Man.
His biographer Joseph McBride wrote; "Near the end of his life, Ford recalled that it was here in Spiddal, while visiting his family’s ancestral home as a boy, that he acquired his love of landscape and his eye for composition."
Highlights at this year’s Festival include: screenings of some of Ford’s most famous films; The Quiet Man (1952) and My Darling Clementine (1946); screenings of adaptations of two Irish literary giants, Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars and Liam O’Flaherty’s The Informer; as well as a one-man play The Quiet Men, based on the lives of brothers Barry Fitzgerald and Arthur Shields, written and performed by Morgan C. Jones.
Conversations across the weekend will bring panelists such as historians Cormac Ó Grada and Breandán Mac Suibhne; author and historian of the Abbey Theatre and Ford expert, Adrian Frazier; as well as a very special discussion between Tony Tracy and Michael Ford, grandson of Francis Ford, John’s older brother.
Join us this September in An Spidéal as we celebrate a cinematic giant and inspire the future of storytelling. Screenings and panels will take place at Scoil Éinne (H91 N9C9) with an exhibition at Stiúideo Cuan (H91 FT67). Other events include Ceardlann John Ford which is a filmmaking workshop for young students inspired by Ford’s filmic style, sponsored by Coimisiún na Meán and Fís Eireann / Screen Ireland; and Íor na Spéire, which is a photographic event for Cois Fharraige schools, sponsored by Creative Ireland.
Féile John Ford 2026 Programme
Friday 11th September
11am - Educational screening of An Cailín Ciúin (2022) [in association with thefilmcorner.eu]
7pm - Screening | The Quiet Man (1952) - Gala Opening of the Festival
Saturday 12th September
10:30am - Panel Discussion | AISTEAR: The Irish American Experience
1pm - Screening | The Plough and the Stars (1936)
4pm - Theatre Production | The Quiet Men
7pm - Screening | The Informer (1935)
Sunday 13th September
1:30pm - Screening | Hangman’s House (1928)
4pm - Panel Discussion | SCÉAL: New Screen Stories SPONSORED BY TG4
7pm - Screening | My Darling Clementine (1946)
Booking is now open, visit FeileJohnFord.com
Féile John Ford would like to acknowledge the support of its sponsors for this year’s Festival: Forum Connemara CLG (LEADER); Commisiún Na Meán; Fís Éreann/Screen Ireland; Údarás na Gaeltachta; Ealaín na Gaeltachta; Castlegar; Galway Film Fleadh; TG4; Danú Media; Integer; Invermed; Aran Island Ferries; Fáilte Ireland; Creative Ireland; Iris Productions; Forám; Galway County Council; ATU Galway; An Coimisinéir Teanga; Comhar Creidmheasa Cholmcille.
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Website: feilejohnford.com
Instagram: @feilejohnford
