Legendary Mayo festival marks a milestone birthday this year

For four decades, Síamsa Sráide has celebrated all that is great about Swinford and East Mayo. A committed group of volunteers and the support of the local community has seen the festival expand and evolve while never losing its heart.

PRO Brendan Cassidy has been involved with the festival for 20 years. Starting as a street steward, Brendan has become one of its mainstays.

“It’s really evolved as a community festival. It started initially as a one-day event 40 years ago with a street busking competition and now we have this incredible week-long series of events,” he said.

As part of this year’s programme, the festival will open will a commemorative evening where memories will be shared about Síamsa’s infancy as well as tales and photographs from down through the years.

“That promises to be a really special event,” said Brendan.

Also celebrated will be Síamsa’s long tradition of cross-border partnership and peace-building. Members of the committee were recently invited to the Guildhall in Derry alongside members of the Hamilton Flute Band to mark this special link and friendship. Members of the band will be visiting Swinford for the opening night celebrations.

“That cross-border partnership and work is also something very unique and special about Síamsa Sráide,” said Brendan.

He said it’s a festival with community at its core.

“People are so committed to the festival. It’s all about the community. We have our own logo and our coats of arms, and on the back of our programme we have the Coretta Scott King quote – 'The greatness of community is most accurately measured by the compassion actions of its members.' That’s how we feel and when you open a Síamsa Sráide programme you will see stuff organised by a whole host of clubs and organisations. It truly is a community festival."

Beginning its life in 1984, the festival has never lost momentum.

“Through the leadership of people like Brid O’Connell and Joe Mellett this festival has gone from strength to strength. Those are the two stalwarts who have brought people together,” Brendan stated.

“It all started in 1984 during International Youth Year with a group of primary school children, their teachers, and a local curate,” Brid recalls.

“After about three years I could see it had potential and that we had the makings of a really good festival that could run for four or five days. I had this vision and I believed in it. Nothing could have happened without the support of the local community,” she added.

The diaspora has long been an integral part of the Síamsa Sráide.

“This is an area where we had an awful lot of emigration from, and we have always been keen to shine a light on that. We have always been well supported by our diaspora,” said Brid.

She said the musical traditions of Mayo and, in particular, East Mayo have always been held dear and showcased during the festivities.

Joe Mellett said Síamsa never fails to bring a smile to people’s faces.

“It’s a simple formula with music and fun on the streets and it works.

“If you’re ever in bad form or down Síamsa Sráide is the perfect antidote,” he added.

He said in recent years it has come an essential meeting point for people to catch up with old friends.

“People come on holidays especially for Siamsa but there are also people who come in from the outlying townlands to meet their neighbours and their friends. They may not have had a chance to catch up for a drink or a gossip and Siama gives them that. It’s a serious get-together and it’s fantastic to see people laughing on the streets with their neigbours and friends,” said Joe.

“It’s felt like a short 40 years and hopefully it will long continue,” he added.