The Inis Meáin Blackberry Festival, Féile na bPuiteachaí, returned to the Aran Islands this week for a third year running.
This year’s festival introduced a double autumnal theme of ‘Puiteachaí agus Fataí’ (Blackberries and Potatoes ) and celebrated both crops with a variety of workshops and competitions.
The 2024 Féile na bPuiteachaí Baking Competition, a festival favourite, saw over 20 blackberry-themed desserts presented at Halla Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin, with sixth-generation master baker Jimmy Griffin, formerly of Griffin’s Bakery Galway, presiding as adjudicator. “I judged the bakes based on taste, of course, and on the use of ‘puiteachaí’ in the recipes”, said Griffin, speaking in Irish at the prize-giving ceremony on Saturday. Third place was awarded to local retired teacher, Orlaith Breathnach and second prize was given to a group of secondary school students from the island’s Coláiste Naomh Eoin. First prize was claimed by Inis Meáin resident Catherine Sandoval, who took the title for the second time in the prestigious competition sponsored by Cniotáil Inis Meáin.
Unprecedented crowds gathered at the festival for the first ever Féile na bPuiteachaí competition for the island’s biggest potato, with local farmers presenting in force to compete for the title of ‘An Fata is Mó’. The title, and the Féile na bPuiteachaí hamper, sponsored by Siopa Ruaidhrí Beag Inis Meáin, went to seven-year old Liam Mac Thomáis for his potato; weighing a whopping two pounds, eight ounces.
Poetry prizes for primary and secondary school students, sponsored by publishers Futa Fata, were scooped up by Cillín Ó Fátharta, Erinna Ní Ghiolla Ruaidh, Laila Nic Dhonncha and Marcus Ó Fátharta from Scoil Náisiúnta Inis Meáin and Michelle Ní Fhátharta and Chloe Ní Chonghaile from Coláiste Naomh Eoin. Prizes for the adult compositions went to local teacher Róisín Ní Chonghaile (3rd place ) and Art Ó Súilleabháin from Corr na Móna (2nd place ). Well-known writer and performer Fearghas Mac Lochlainn took home first place, and a €100 cash prize, for the third year in a row for his poem ‘An tAchrann sa nGarraí’; poetically detailing an argument between a blackberry, and a potato.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with how the festival went this year”, said festival founder Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh. “It’s really rare to have an occasion where men, women and children can all gather together and be equally entertained, but that’s exactly what we achieved at Féile na bPuiteachaí. It’s something we are hugely proud of and hope to continue.” “The whole community
really enjoyed the events, there was something for absolutely everyone on the day”, said festival co-director Gráinne Ní Chonghaile, “People are already talking about Féile na bPuiteachaí 2025 - we’ll have to get planning early!”
