How It All Began

The 4 Corners Festival was conceived by a group of Christians who wish to promote unity and reconciliation in the midst of our city’s – and our islands’ – troubled past.

The idea for the festival grew out of conversations between Fr Martin Magill, at that time parish priest of St Oliver Plunkett Parish in West Belfast, and Rev Steve Stockman of Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in South Belfast. Both had recently travelled to parts of Belfast with which they were unfamiliar, and had been astonished by what they discovered there.

They hoped to prompt others to experience new areas of their city through a festival of events that would introduce people to new parts of their city, challenging and inspiring them to keep crossing boundaries in their everyday lives. They sought to introduce people to churches in the four corners of the city, bringing a transformational energy to the healing of the city.

The Festival has been delivered annually since 2013, with audiences growing each year. See our programme archive for information on previous festival events.