The second Rath Literary Festival returned with an exciting and diverse programme of literature, music, film and creative workshops, celebrating both local talent and visiting artists. The 2026 festival had a strong emphasis on creativity, participation and young people. Over 750 entries of the Schools Competition came in from Primary and Secondary Schools in the local area, all with a very high standard of quality writing and expression of creativity.
On Saturday evening, in the atmospheric setting of Drumballyroney Church, keynote speaker, Lord Iveagh, Edward Arthur Guinness, head of the Guinness family, made his first visit to the area. It was a memorable evening with Anne Harper discussing his recent book Guinness: A Family Succession. Anne performed her beautiful piece Iveagh on the harp for the packed out audience.
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- Press Launch
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- Authors Chrissie Walsh and Rosemary Jenkinson at Drumballyroney Church with festival organisers Andy Peters, Ada Elliott and Margot Groves and Catherine Fegan.
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- The Newpoint Players who performed their play, The Trial of PH Pearse before the Court of History, in Chandler’s House on Sunday afternoon.
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- Sunday night performers Johnny Taylor, Aenghus Hackett, Suzanne Savage and Rod Patterson with festival organisers Ada Elliott, Margot Groves, Catherine Fegan and Andy Peters at the end of the second Rath Literary Festival.
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- Dublin’s Eanna Ní Lamhna with festival organisers Ada Elliot, Margot Groves, Andy Peters and Catherine Fegan in Chandler’s House, Rathfriland.
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- Anne Harper playing her piece ‘Iveagh’ at the Rath Literary Festival in Drumballyroney Church.
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- Lord Iveagh is interviewed on the stage by Anne Harper at the historic Drumballyroney Church about his book ‘Guinness: A Family Succession’.
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- Lord Iveagh and Anne Harper with festival organisers Andy Peters, Margot Groves, Ada Elliott and Catherine Fegan at the historic Drumballyroney Church on Saturday evening.
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- Maggie Doyle reading from her second book, Magy’s Farm – Where Music Grows.
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- Rathfriland WI members Martha Pollock, Caroline McCreight, Ada Elliott, Noreen Smith, Susan Scott, Janice Bell and Margot Groves manned the book stall which sold visiting authors’ books during the festival as well as local history books on Rathfriland.
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- Creative Writing workshop facilitator Arlene Pattison with the children who attended Friday’s free session.
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- Press Launch at Drumballyroney Church.
