Return of the Jedi to Dunmanway for Star Wars festival

For a second year Dunmanway is hosting an international Star Wars festival on the June bank holiday weekend.

Feel the Force will be officially opened by Malaysian Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Wan Aznainizam Yusri Wan Abdul Rashid, on Saturday May 31, with a full programme of events planned for the weekend.

Star Wars exhibitions, collectors, and vendors will descend on two venues in the town, St Patrick’s Hall and Dunmanway Sports Hall.

One of the festival highlights will include a specially-made Sith Throne created by Newry Bakry, one of the festival organisers. 

Mr Bakry put months of work into the throne and will be unveiling it in St Patrick’s Hall, where photo opportunities will be available across the weekend.

A substantial selection of helmets from Star Wars, DC, and MCU will also be on display during the festival, along with an exhibition of Mr Bakry’s personal collection of Star Wars, DC, Marvel, and Transformers figures and dioramas.

Spain’s Los Frikis de la Galaxia Cosplayers will be travelling over for the event. Dunmanway’s West Cork Tuskens and Reel Icons, an Irish costuming community club, will be cosplaying. The schedule also includes an African drumming workshop, Le Chéile Art Workshop, and Malaysian themed street food.

Catherine Crowley, Feel the Force co-ordinator, said that all involved are really looking forward to the Star War-themed festival returning to Dunmanway for a second year.

“There’s great excitement in the town where the schools, community and businesses get heavily involved. We are most thankful for their support.”

Feel the Force Dunmanway won the award for Best West Cork Festival at the Southern Star West Cork Business and Tourism Awards 2024.

• Feel the Force takes place on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1. For more, see Feeltheforce.ie.