Féile Róise Rua’s artist residency programme, supported by the Arts Council, is central to how the festival works. Rather than hosting a large number of visiting artists, we choose to work closely with a small number, allowing for deeper engagement with the island community. This approach has made the residencies one of the most rewarding and impactful parts of the festival, and we remain committed to supporting artists to visit, collaborate, and connect meaningfully with the people of Árainn Mhór.

Our residencies place a strong emphasis on community participation. Visiting artists often work across disciplines including traditional craft practices such as weaving, spinning, knitting, and dyeing, making repeat visits to the island to connect with community members, including older residents who hold generations of knowledge and skill. Many lead open workshops and skill-sharing sessions, passing on and reviving traditional practices while building lasting relationships with the people they work alongside.

The residency model supports arts activity on the island that extends well beyond the festival weekend, helping keep the community actively engaged in the arts throughout the year.

Past residencies have resulted in a rich range of creative outcomes: a film made by filmmaker and musician Louise Gaffney about the festival, a zine produced by singer, musician, and artist Ruth Clinton, a new tune composed by fiddle master Liam Ó Conaill for the local pipe band, songs taught to island schoolchildren, a weaving project with island women and artist Aideen Macken, dances created in honour of local people by Edwina Guckian, and a new version of the Róise Rua song Ceol a Phíobaire / Ór ar an Phláta by multi-instrumentalist and singer Rick Epping, among many other projects.

Through this model, Féile Róise Rua continues to build genuine, lasting connections between artists and the island of Árainn Mhór.