The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 is here — and you’re invited!
This year’s celebration of Co. Wexford’s rich cultural traditions promises a vibrant mix of creativity, music, community, and folklore. From our much-loved Eggshell Decorating Competition and family-friendly workshops to the traditional music concert, communal May Bush celebration, and the return of the May Bush Queen & King, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. As we welcome in the summer together, we invite schools, families, and community members across the county to join in this joyful Féile rooted in heritage and heart.
The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 | Eggshell Decorating Competition
We’re inviting the whole community across Co. Wexford to join in the tradition of decorating eggshells for your May Bush this year.
There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for the best decorated eggshells, which you can hang on your own May Bush at home, at school, or on the communal Gorey May Bush on May Eve.
How to get involved: You can book your free spot to join us at Gorey Library at 11am on Saturday, April 26th for our May Bush Decorating & Traditional Song Workshop for Families—entries can be submitted on the day or email your photos to [email protected].
The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 | Maybush Decorating & Traditional Song Workshop for Families…
Join traditional singer and folklore collector Rachel Uí Fhaoláin in Gorey Library on Saturday the 26th of April from 11am – 12 noon for our May Bush Decorating & Traditional Song Workshop. Children and families are invited to come along and make their own beautiful decorations for the communal Gorey May Bush, while also exploring, engaging and connecting with the wider celebrations of welcoming in Summer in Co. Wexford and beyond, as part of The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025.
You can book your FREE place through the Library click here:
The Gorey May Bush Feile 2025 Community Concert | Tá Bealtaine ag teacht…
The community are invited to join us in Christ Church, Gorey at 6.30pm on Sunday 27th of April for a very special community evening of traditional music, song and poetry. Everyone welcome. Bígí linn!
Special guests include renowned Piper Mark Redmond.
The Gorey May Bush Féile 2023 | Let’s Decorate the May Bush…
We’re delighted to announce the details of our annual ‘Let’s Decorate the May Bush’ community event which is always a very special evening. As we’ve done in previous years we will meet again under the Circe Pavilion beside the communal May Bush for an evening of traditional music, song, poetry, stories and dance while we decorate the May Bush and exchange our traditions around welcoming in Summer.
Join us from 6.30pm on May Eve (Wed 30th of April) for what promises to be an extra special evening. Bring a chair and be part of this wonderful community celebration as we welcome in summer together. Fáilte roimh chách!
Special guests on the night include Gorey Pipe Band.
If you would like to perform on the night please email [email protected]
The Gorey May Bush Féile is supported by County Wexford Arts Department as part of the Small Arts Festival Scheme in partnership with Arts Council Ireland.
The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 | Gaolta Óga…
As part of The Gorey May Bush Féile various roles for young musicians, dancers and singers have been created down through the years to encourage engagement with our rich culture and heritage surrounding the May Bush tradition and welcoming in Summer. This year we are delighted to add a new youth residency role to the programme, our ‘Gaolta Óga’. Along with being special guests and leading the music and singing at The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 | Let’s Decorate the May Bush event on May Eve (Wed 30th of April), siblings Sadie & Maryrose’s talents will be spotlighted through performance & film in the lead up to May Eve. Bígí ag faire amach!
Meet our Gaolta Óga for 2025…
Sadie is 11 and Maryrose is 8 years old. They play piano accordion, tin whistle, drums & love singing together. Their hobbies include music, Irish dancing and football. Sadie is the current county champion, 3rd year running, for piano accordion, while she was also crowned Leinster Champion in 2024 at Fleadh Laighean. Maryrose has won numerous medals and trophies in junior fleadh competitions.
They are both members of CCÉ Naomh Caoimhín Loch Garman and St. Kevin’s Marching Band with Sadie on accordion and Maryrose drumming. They have become good friends with renowned musician Sharon Shannon over the years and have enjoyed singing with her on stage. Sadie & Maryrose have a younger brother called Billy and 2 dogs called Dougal and Agnes.
“A Penny on the May Bush” …
Join us on May Eve (Wednesday 30th of April) at the communal May Bush at Gorey Civic Square for The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 | Let’s Decorate the May Bush event. We’ll decorate the May Bush and ‘shower pennies on the children’ as was the tradition. One written account from Wexford in The Schools’ Collection tells us that children “go around the street and shout out ‘A penny on the May Bush’. When they come home they have a party with the money that they get on the May Bush. In the year 1937 seven of my companions and myself went around and we got one and a penny”.
The Gorey May Bush Queen & King 2025…
Who will be crowned at this year’s ceremony? Join us for our annual The Gorey May Bush Féile 2025 | Let’s Decorate the May Bush community event on May Eve (Wednesday 30th of April) from 6.30pm for what promises to be a very special evening.
