About the
Mull of Kintyre Music Festival

The Mull of Kintyre Music & Arts Association was inaugurated on 6th December, 1992. A committee of hard working volunteers was elected to further the aims of the Association. Each member contributes his or her own unique input to the organisation culminating in events which are appreciated by locals and visitors from all over the world

The aims of the Association are:

The Mull of Kintyre Music Festival has presented, over the years, talented and world renowned musicians such as Capercaillie in 1993 to Davy Spillane, creator of the original Riverdance Sound, in 1996.

The atmosphere created at each Festival has successfully encouraged local participation which has, in turn, attracted visitors from all over Europe, the Far East, America, Canada, New Zealand and South America. This is largely due to our world wide advertising as well as spreading the word through musicians and patrons.

Each year the Festival has grown, nurturing home grown talent while importing the Irish Celtic flavour and encouraging, very importantly, young people.

The weekend is organised by an enthusiastic committee of volunteers who carefully plan, package and price events for the good of the local community and the future of Traditional Music and Arts.

This is the Mull of Kintyre's eighth Music Festival and this year (2000) we have really come of age. Having hosted Capercaillie, Altan, Dervish, Davy Spillane, Dougie MacLean, Shooglenifty, Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham gives us a feeling of maturity, of being there with the rest of the folk world.

The committee, like many in this small rural community, are committed to that local community. We have seen progress, and with the inauguration of the Irish ferry linking Campbeltown with Ballycastle in July 1997, we can only progress even further.

The Mull of Kintyre Music Festival is now well established as one of the major events in the folk world calendar and attracts many visitors from overseas as well as from the UK.

The committee needs to expand to encompass all sections of the community and whilst the Association is providing a solid financial base, it needs real financial support from councils and funding agencies to enable it to progress.

Kintyre is rich in talent which must be allowed to nurture and be enjoyed by local people and visitors who recognise Kintyre's valuable contribution to music and arts in Scotland.