Festival fun: Féile an Phobail kicks off as 10,000 revellers pack Falls Park for concert

Over 10,000 people packed Falls Park in west Belfast on Saturday evening as the first of six major concerts took place during Féile 2024.

Crowds of people enjoyed the night out and donned their best costumes to fit the Eighties and Nineties theme.

Among the acts taking the stage were D:Ream, most famous for UK No.1 Things Can Only Get Better in 1994.

The headline act on the night was Holly Johnson, lead singer of Liverpudlian legends Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who wowed those in attendance with some of the band’s greatest hits including Two Tribes, Relax and The Power Of Love.

Johnson was wearing his signature purple gloves and grey shirt.

DJ Johnny Hero kept the tunes going through the evening until 1am, with many revellers staying until the end to enjoy Abba classics and some energetic dance tunes.

It came after Féile’s biggest ever carnival parade on Saturday afternoon that involved 5,000 participants and saw thousands more lining the route from Dunville Park on the Falls Road to Spórtlann na hÉireann.

This year’s theme is ‘Our Children, Their Rights’.

During the concert, Johnson addressed the violence of far-right protesters in Belfast, saying: “What was that all about this morning, getting from A to B was very difficult.

“Right outside the City Hall, I saw it all this morning.

“Anyway, this is much more fun.”

Yesterday Féile saw 1,500 children and their families enjoy a Teddy Bears Picnic.

And thousands again packed into Falls Park for the Ireland For Palestine Benefit Concert featuring Frances Black and DJ David Holmes among others.