Féile an Phobail has welcomed a legal threat being dropped, after the charity’s removal of an event from its flagship annual festival’s programme was challenged.
The charity was sued by Women’s Rights Network Northern Ireland (WRNNI) after it pulled the organisation’s session over concerns that it would promote campaigns against transgender rights, it told the BBC.
WRNNI, part of a UK-wide group that promotes the rights of “adult human females”, wrote on Friday that it had “no choice” but to proceed with legal action unless Féile reinstated the event.
However, WRNNI announced yesterday that it had reached an agreement with the charity and confirmed “the current legal proceedings” had ended.
The network said that its “respect, rights and reality” event would instead be held at an alternative venue on 4 August, although it did not say this was connected to the Féile an Phobail festival.
WRNNI said it had agreed to meet with the charity to “explore and discuss” participation in future Féile events.
“We warmly welcome the opportunity for continued engagement,” it added.
The charity, whose eponymous festival in west Belfast attracts more than 700,000 people annually, said it was “delighted” with the outcome and confirmed the original event would remain withdrawn.
Féile, registered as a charity in 2016, said the resolution was a vindication of its position to remove WRNNI’s event.
“The agenda of many of those who involved themselves in this issue was clear for all to see,” it said.
“Many of the very same people line up every year to attack Féile at every turn, to attempt to damage Féile, and to attack the west Belfast community. They will never succeed.
“Féile an Phobail will continue to provide a voice for the marginalised, and we are looking forward to welcoming the world to west Belfast to join us to celebrate Ireland’s biggest community festival.”
The flagship August festival runs for 10 days and includes around 300 events including exhibitions, dramas and theatre.
Féile recorded an income of £1.98m and expenditure of £1.99m in the year to March 2025.
