Féile John Ford is a unique cultural festival held in An Spidéal, Co. Galway, celebrating one of Hollywood’s greatest directors. The festival runs from Friday, 11th to Sunday, 13th September.

John Ford, both of whose parents came from the area known as Cois Fharraige ('beside the sea'), holds the record for the most Academy Awards won by a director, with six Oscars to his name. Four as Best Director – The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1935), How Green was my Valley (1941) and The Quiet Man (1952) and two for best documentary, The Battle of Midway (1942) and December 7th (1943).

A true giant of cinema, Ford shaped the course of American film and influenced generations of filmmakers around the world and this three-day festival brings his legacy home, honouring him through film screenings, talks, and a special exhibition.

By reflecting on his extraordinary life and body of work, we aim to inspire a new generation of storytellers from his ancestral homeplace and beyond.