Date: 01 May 2025
Four Days of Music, Film & Sonic Experiences in Letterkenny. May 8–11, 2025
The SOUND! Festival returns this May with four days of music, film, and sound, culminating in a major new live event celebrating one of Donegal’s proudest sporting moments.
The festival takes place at the Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianan Theatre, the programme features award-winning cinema, live performances, interactive exhibitions, workshops, and community events for all ages.
At the heart of this year’s programme is The Sound of Triumph: Donegal ’92 Rescored—a unique live performance reimagining the All-Ireland Football Final of 1992 through contemporary music and visuals. Composer Brian Dillon leads a group of acclaimed collaborators in a bold new score for archive footage of the match that made history. Fusing piano, synthesizers, drum machines, strings, and electronics, the piece blends nostalgia with experimentation to offer a fresh and emotionally charged take on a legendary game.
Surrounding this headline event is a rich mix of screenings, concerts and talks across Donegal. The festival opens with FLOW, the Oscar-winning animated film by Gints Zilbalodis, and a live movie music concert at An Grianán Theatre with the Donegal Chamber Orchestra, Shindig House Band and guests. Jóhann Jóhannsson’s atmospheric Drone Mass is performed by Chamber Choir Ireland and Crash Ensemble, while Battleship Potemkin returns to the screen with a new live score.
There’s also something unexpected around every corner—from the surreal comedy of Hundreds of Beavers, to a late-night movie-themed DJ set, to a live audio journey through Ireland’s birdsong with ornithologist Seán Ronayne. And in the gallery, Prototypes for Cyborgs – A Space Opera invites audiences into an immersive, interactive world of sound, sculpture, and virtual reality.
SOUND! is a festival for film lovers, music fans, and anyone curious about how we listen, watch, and feel. With live scores, rare screenings, new commissions and community events, it promises to be a highlight of Donegal’s cultural calendar.
Full programme and ticket details: www.regionalculturalcentre.com
