THE Burtonport Summer Festival reaches the incredible milestone of 50 years this month.
From its inaugural weekend-long event in 1977, it has built up to this year’s eight-day extravaganza.
A very special festival launch will be held in St Columba’s Community Centre in Burtonport on Sunday, July 5.
The evening will consist of a walk down memory lane as the festival committee have put together a collection of pictures, newspaper articles and memorabilia which includes a copy of each one of the 50 festivals brochures going right back to the very first annual summer festival in 1977.
It even includes a brochure of the famous but short lived Burtonport Salmon Festival, which was held for three years (1967 to 1969) and pre-dated the festival.
This year’s full Burtonport Summer Festival starts on Friday, July 17.
One of the highlights of the celebrations to mark the 50th festival is undoubtedly the Festival Commemorative Book An Leabhar Cuimhneacháin which will also be launched at the event.
The book is a 206-page trawl through the 50 years of the festival and tells its story through a mixture of text and images.
It’s a fascinating trip through each of the festivals years and brings together much-loved stories, history and photographs into a document which we hope will act as a reference point for the past and provide an inspiration for future generations to maintain the longstanding tradition and institution that is the Burtonport Festival. The book is the brain child of current festival director Triona Boner.
She approached Adrian Alcorn and Eugene Mcgarvey in late 2025 with an idea to create a book to mark the 50 years of the festival.
Adrian and Eugene had been heavily involved in the creation of the CLG An Clochan Liath 100-year anniversary book in 2023.
A Burtonport Festival Executive Committee spokesperson said: “We sincerely hope that the public embrace this book and enjoy it as it delivers the story of the festival and pays a fitting tribute to all those whose untiring efforts have kept the festival going over the fifty years.
“The book will be on sale on the night, priced at €20 and will be available for sale in local shops in the coming weeks.
“Keep an eye on the festival’s Facebook page for further details of where the book can be purchased.
“To truly thank all the people who have been involved in the festival over the many years, ranging from those who directed the festival, committee members, event organisers, stewards, helpers and sponsors, we have decided to mark their efforts by incorporating an appreciation into the event on July 5.
“Hot food will be served to everyone present on the evening. This will be only a small token of appreciation to all those who made the effort.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be standing on the eve of the 50th such event.
“The appreciation evening was the idea of one of the founding members of the 1977 festival committee, David Alcorn, co-director in 1977 and long-time Burtonport Community activist.
“He will speak during the appreciation part of the evening and will relay his thanks to all those involved and to pay a special tribute to those who played their part but are sadly are no longer with us.
“In great Burtonport festival tradition, we will also proudly launch our 50th festival brochure.
“As is tradition for the festival, we have invited members of the local press to cover the evening, along with this year’s festival sponsors whose generosity has ensured we will not have a problem covering the cost of running the festival.
“The brochure launch will give the public and the local media a first glimpse of the fantastic eight-day long schedule of events and the festival directors will take this opportunity to whet the appetite of the audience by presenting the brochure and highlight the main events taking place each day.
“Tá muid ag súil go mór le Clár an Fhéile” ata urraithe ag Údaras na Gaeltachta tríd an ciste Leader.
“We look forward to the first glimpse of the brochure which has been funded this year by the Leader, fund which is administered by Údaras Na Gaeltachta.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the fund administrators for their efforts in ensuring the festival received the financial support towards the huge cost of producing such a comprehensive brochure.
“The efforts of the sub-committee of David Alcorn, Triona Boner and Eugene McGarvey (Coiste na Gaelige) in working with Údaras Na Gaeltachta representatives must be acknowledged as without their effort, this funding would not have been received.
“The festival committee has worked hard since the AGM in late 2025 to ensure this years festival is bigger, brighter and better than ever before.
“We are looking forward to Burtonport Festival#50 and we sincerely hope to see a capacity crowd in the Community Centre on Sunday, July 5, to give this year’s festival the launch it truly deserves.”
Burtonport Festival 2025 prince Louie O’Donnell with festival princess Amelia O’Donnell.