Ireland has been announced as the official Country Partner for the Hornbill Festival 2025, marking a significant cultural collaboration between Nagaland and the Irish government. The announcement was made jointly by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Irish Ambassador Kevin Kelly at the Naga House in New Delhi on Tuesday.
As Country Partner, Ireland will bring a wide range of cultural, academic and artistic engagements to this year’s festival. The programming will include music showcases, theatre and literary events, public art installations, investment-focused discussions, and a dialogue series examining themes around Ireland, India and empire.
A newly formed Irish music ensemble, Bóinn — comprising members of the folk band The Mary Wallopers along with other musicians — will perform at the festival’s opening ceremony. The group, made up of artists from Dublin and Dundalk, is expected to present traditional Irish ballads and lesser-known folk songs in a contemporary format for festival audiences.
Irish historian Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Chair of the Irish Research Council, will lead a public discussion exploring Ireland’s history of colonisation and its shared points of reflection with Nagaland. Delhi-based theatre collective Kaivalya Plays will also take part in the festival, presenting dramatised readings from James Joyce’s Dubliners and conducting workshops for young performers.
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The Embassy of Ireland, in partnership with its Honorary Consulate General in Kolkata and Keventers Agro, is bringing a public art installation featuring Danu, the Irish pagan goddess, created by artists from Macnas alongside Indian collaborators. The installation will be unveiled in Kohima during the festival period.
Ambassador Kevin Kelly said the partnership reflects the growing cultural engagement between Ireland and India and expressed hope that the collaboration will lead to future exchanges. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio welcomed Ireland’s participation, saying it aligns well with Nagaland’s emphasis on cultural identity, creative industries and people-to-people links.
Organised annually from December 1 to 10, the Hornbill Festival is Nagaland’s largest cultural event and brings together the state’s 17 major tribes. Since 2000, it has played a central role in promoting tourism and celebrating the state’s heritage.
The travelling Irish music team for Hornbill 2025 includes Andrew Hendy and Finnian O’Connor of The Mary Wallopers, along with musicians Méabh Mulligan and Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin. Performing together under the name Bóinn for the first time, the group is preparing a collaborative set drawing from Irish folk traditions ahead of their debut in Nagaland.
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