Cashel Arts Festival and the organising committee are delighted to announce the eighth Féile Fidelma

Cashel Arts Festival and the organising committee are delighted to announce the eighth Féile Fidelma- an international gathering of fans of Peter Tremayne’s Sr Fidelma mysteries and those interested in 7th Century Ireland.

NB: Subject to a minimum of 35 registrants, the Féile is scheduled to take place from Friday 9th May to Sunday 11th May 2025 in Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

The venue will be Brú Ború Cultural Centre which is located at the foot of The Rock of Cashel.

Weekend registration will be €200 with a €20 discount for those who register on or before October 1st 2024. The registration fee covers the opening reception, a special registration pack with a souvenir booklet, all lectures, talks, workshops and trips, tea/coffee breaks and the gala dinner with entertainment.

This weekend has further insights into the richness of the Celtic Christian Monastic heritage in Ireland and its spread to Europe. The committee is in the process of putting together a programme of events. At this stage, it is not possible to give precise details but we would like to give you a general picture of what you can expect. The following is a provisional programme that is subject to change in the coming months!

Friday, May 9th 2025

Official Opening and Reception.

Introductory Talk on the reasons for the International Success of the Fidelma Mysteries.

Saturday, May 10th 2025

The Conflict between the Irish Church and Rome in the Time of Fidelma.

  • A Study of the latest two novels in the Mystery Series, Death of a Heretic and Revenge of a Stormbringer. Is Peter becoming more influenced by contemporary events?
  • Rath na Drinne, an ancient settlement close to Cashel, features in many of Peter’s novels. What was its historical significance?
  • Trip to Rath na Drinne.
  • Gala dinner with Entertainment.

Sunday, May 11th 2025

How does the World of Seventh Century Ireland, as portrayed by Peter in his novels, compare or contrast with the Ireland of the time?

Monastic settlements were the towns of Fidelma’s time, what was their role, siting and layout, and how were the timber structures gradually giving way to a greater use of stone.

The storytelling art of Peter Tremayne, a leisurely revelation of the novel’s theme, the expansion of the list of characters and his ability to keep the mystery intact until the final denouement.