Hello Summer – Lithuanian Culture and Sports Festival in Mullingar

Hello Summer – Lithuanian Culture and Sports Festival in Mullingar

The Mullingar Lithuanian Community proudly organised the annual "Hello Summer" Culture and Sports Festival, which this year welcomed a record number of visitors, with attendance approaching 1,000 people.

We were delighted to see guests travelling from across Ireland and Northern Ireland, including visitors from Dungannon, Waterford, Galway, Monaghan, Dublin, Tullamore, Longford, and many surrounding towns. Their presence made the celebration even more special and demonstrated the strength and unity of our Lithuanian community.

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, Westmeath County Council and Avalon Insurance Brokers, and, most importantly, the dedication and hard work of the Mullingar Lithuanian Community organising team: Vilma and Mindaugas Griniai, Ricardas Vilkas, Daiva and Darius Kašikauskai, Alvita and Egidijus Petraičiai, Nilvita Tavorė, Olga and Nerijus Smilingiai led by the Chairwoman of the Mullingar Lithuanian Community, Vita Vilkė.

We were also honoured to welcome Lithuania’s Ambassador to Ireland, Jonas Grinevičius, whose presence added special significance to the celebration and highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties between Lithuania and its diaspora communities abroad.

The festival began with a very special and meaningful project, "The Heart Flag for Lithuania", presented by Jūratė Airošė from Dungannon. This unique flag, now measuring over six metres in length, has been lovingly created from individually knitted pieces joined together as a symbol of unity, community spirit, and love for Lithuania.

The flag was ceremoniously carried into the festival by Suktinis, a Lithuanian folk dance group from Dublin led by Elona Šemetienė, which has been active for almost eight years. They were joined by Spiečius, led by Irma Jonutienė, bringing together an impressive group of dancers ranging in age from six to over sixty years old.

A highlight of the event was the performance and hosting by Diamond Vaida Narkevičiūtė, whose professional stage presence, outstanding vocal performance, and energetic interaction with the audience created a wonderful atmosphere filled with music, dancing, and celebration throughout the day.

The festival programme offered entertainment and activities for all ages. Visitors enjoyed cultural performances, sports competitions, football matches, relay races, a volleyball tournament, and exciting laser tag activities provided by RG FunTime NI. Throughout the festival grounds, visitors could also explore more than 25 traders and exhibitors, offering a wide variety of products, crafts, food, and services, creating a vibrant and welcoming festival atmosphere.

Beyond the celebrations, the festival once again demonstrated the generosity and compassion of our community. Funds were raised for Airijos Lietuviams Rūpi, an organisation dedicated to supporting Lithuanians in Ireland who are facing challenges and difficult circumstances. In addition, thanks to the kindness and generosity of festival visitors, €1,000 was raised for little Kajus. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed. We all hope that Kajus will continue to grow stronger and recover soon, surrounded by the love, care, and support of his family and the wider community.

The "Hello Summer" Festival continues to grow year after year, bringing together Lithuanian families, friends, and communities from across Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was a wonderful celebration of Lithuanian culture, sport, friendship, and community spirit. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, sponsored, traded, and contributed to making this event such an outstanding success. Together, we created a day filled with joy, unity, and unforgettable memories.