Ten Days of Music, Crafts & Sea Adventures At Rathlin Sound Festival

The Rathlin Sound Festival returns to the Causeway Coast from Friday, 23rd May to Sunday, 1st June 2025, promising a spectacular celebration of Ballycastle and Rathlin Island’s people, culture and heritage.

Now in its tenth year, this ten-day festival—staged in partnership with the Rathlin Development and Community Association—honours the Rathlin Sound, the stretch of water linking Rathlin Island to the Ballycastle mainland.

With a packed programme of land- and sea-based activities, there’s something for everyone: live music, wild cookery demonstrations, “have-a-go” workshops, crafts, talks, falconry displays and artisan stalls from the Naturally North Coast and Glens Market.

Children can explore maritime-themed crafts, watch a colourful kite display, try sand-sculpting on Ballycastle Beach, or experiment with circus skills and kayaking. Adults can enjoy insights into traditional boat building, paddleboarding “taster” sessions, further wild cookery demos, and more.

The festival opens on Friday, May 23rd, with the Blessing of the Boats, a moving ceremony that pays tribute to the sea and invokes a safe boating season.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan, said:
“I am delighted to see the Rathlin Sound Festival return for 2025, celebrating Ballycastle and Rathlin Island’s shared nautical heritage. It’s a fantastic showcase of our area’s unparalleled tourism offering, bringing vibrancy that thousands enjoy each year. I look forward to meeting the talented artisan crafters, food producers and musicians from across the Causeway Coast and Glens. I encourage every visitor to explore our wider region and its wonderful places and spaces.”

The full programme of events can be viewed here.