Northern Ireland

Footsteps in the Forest returns to Slieve Gullion

Characters from the Footsteps in the Forest festival in Slieve Gullion 3-4 June
Characters from the Footsteps in the Forest festival in Slieve Gullion 3-4 June Characters from the Footsteps in the Forest festival in Slieve Gullion 3-4 June

FINN McCool, a fairy queen, and woodland fawns are just some of the characters you could bump into at the Footsteps in the Forest Festival in Co Armagh.

The two-day event returns to Slieve Gullion on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 June when mischievous trolls will guide adventure seekers through the forest in a theatrical tour featuring the Birdman of Slieve Donard and the legendary witch Cailleach Bheara, among others.

The festival proved a huge success last year when it won the 2016 Heritage Council Cool for Kids category.

Tickets for the guided tour are free and there will also be a market featuring local food produce and musicians performing throughout the weekend. Other activities include face painting, balloon modelling, monster mask making, blacksmithing with Gerard Loughran, wood turning with Padriag Carragher, felting and glass painting.