The Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures returns this autumn with a bold and moving programme. Now in its seventh year, Misleór remains the only festival in Europe dedicated to celebrating the creativity, culture, and lived experiences of nomadic communities. Find out more here...
Led by the Galway Traveller Movement and supported by the Arts Council, Misleór brings together artists, activists, and community voices from across Ireland and beyond. The 2025 festival theme, Tending the Flame: On the Road to Justice and Reparation, explores identity, resistance, memory, and the collective journey toward equity and recognition.
"The theme this year speaks directly to the lived realities of many nomadic peoples," says Misleór Cultural Director, Nora Corcoran. "We focus on justice, dignity and the right to live freely. When we talk about reparation, we’re talking about more than apology — we mean real, tangible steps to recognise historical wrongs, restore dignity, and build a future where nomadic cultures are respected, visible, and safe."
Corcoran says the programme reflects a strong mix of culture and activism; "Misleór is a place to share stories, build solidarity, and imagine change."
The festival will run over four days in Galway City from 25–28 September, followed by a programme at the Ballinasloe Horse Fair the following week. Last year, Misleór welcomed approximately 1,600 attendees, and this year’s vibrant and community-led programme is expected to draw similar numbers.
Misleór opens on Thursday 25 September with the much-loved Cherra Session, an intimate evening of poetry, storytelling, and song shared around a symbolic fire. "Cherra" is the Cant word for "fire", and this powerful opening honours Traveller traditions and the warmth of gathering together, swapping stories, sharing music, and celebrating community.
Inuk human rights activist Aaju Peter will present her acclaimed feature documentary Twice Colonized as part of a powerful keynote event. This sets the tone for the Misleór Whidden - a vibrant celebration of nomadic cultures that leads with art to spark dialogue around social justice and cultural activism. A day of talks and discussions will explore the shared histories and lived experiences of nomadic communities, while imagining new pathways toward justice and reparation. Contributions from Sámi, Scottish Traveller, and Roma cultural activists will further enrich the conversation.
The festival’s Nomadic Shorts film supported by Ardán & Galway City of Film series also returns, showcasing powerful works including My Kind of People by Ella Louise Ward and Sam Rom, a poetic portrait of Roma life in Donegal.
A lively evening of cross-cultural celebration brings together communities for a Roma-Traveller Zabava, a traditional Roma gathering of music and dance. Glasgow-based Roma band Zor leads the line-up in a ticketed event at Galway Rowing Club, joined by Traveller and nomadic performers from across Ireland.
"More than 20 artists from six nomadic communities are part of this year’s programme," says Corcoran. "It’s a truly international and collaborative event."
Another focus of the festival highlights youth and family creativity. Young Travellers from Galway, Ballinasloe, and Loughrea will showcase work developed through workshops with Willzee and Chloe McDonagh, supported by GRETB’s Local Creative Youth Partnership. Also returning are Oein De Bhairduin and Nora Corcoran with their popular workshop on Traditional Traveller Herbalism and Healing.
Visual culture is a strong feature this year. A major addition is If Hazel Could Talk, a summer-long Creative Communities project exploring sustainable craft and roadside life. Artist Debbie Reilly collaborates weekly with Traveller artists to build a traditional wattle tent, which will be exhibited during the festival as a living symbol of nomadic knowledge and skill.
Misleór also welcomes the Cork Traveller Women’s Network, presenting Creating Connections – Traveller Lives, a 12-minute virtual reality experience made with artist Linda Curtin. The immersive piece offers a rare look inside Traveller homes and everyday life.
Music and memory come together in Stories and Songs of the Road: Vol. 2, a collaboration with the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA). The event revisits recordings from a cassette made in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, with live performances and reflections from family members.
Misleór will once again feature at the Ballinasloe Horse Fair where Misleór will host a day of performance, culture, and creativity, bringing the festival spirit to one of Ireland’s oldest and most iconic nomadic gatherings.
"Misleór is a cultural home for many who have long been excluded from national conversations," says Corcoran. "It places nomadic voices at the centre."
With participants from over five nomadic and Indigenous communities, Misleór 2025 promises to be a vital celebration of culture, connection, and creative resistance.
Full programme coming soon: www.misleor.ie
Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures 2025 is proudly supported by The Arts Council of Ireland through the Festivals Funding scheme, the University of Galway, Galway City of Film, the Creative Ireland Programme, Ardán and Galway City of Film, the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA), Music Generation Galway City, the National Talent Academies, Galway City Museum, the Irish Architecture Foundation, Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), Galway Arts Centre, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Galway County Council, and Galway City Council.
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