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THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS Network Northern Ireland has launched legal proceedings against a west Belfast festival after the cancellation of an event it was due to hold.

Féile an Phobail is Ireland’s largest community arts festival and expects to welcome over 120,000 visitors to more than 500 events this summer. It runs this year from 25 July to 9 August.

On Tuesday, Féile an Phobail cancelled an event that was due to be staged by Women’s Rights Network Northern Ireland (WRN NI) as part of the festival. The cancellation has led to some criticism, including from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. 

The WRN NI group has said its “one priority” is “advocating for single-sex spaces for women and girls”.

In a statement earlier this week, Féile an Phobail said it “was unaware from the initial submission that this event would promote campaigns against rights for the transgender community”.

It added that it “takes pride in standing up for those who are marginalised and attacked” and that it “fully supports the rights of the transgender community to be treated with equality and respect”.

In response, WRN NI said it was “shocked and deeply disappointed” by the decision.

The group said its event was to be a discussion on women’s sex-based rights, which was “was made clear to Féile when our application was submitted”.

“No organisation that values free speech should allow intimidation to determine which voices are heard,” WRN NI said.

“Women advocating for their sex-based rights are not campaigning against the rights of others. We reject any attempt to misrepresent either our organisation or the purpose of this event.”

Féile an Phobail today offered to meet with WRN NI in Belfast city centre over the issue.

In a statement this evening, the festival said there were “no resolutions to the issues” after the meeting.

It added that it was “extremely disappointed that legal representatives for the WRN NI filed legal papers with the court before our meeting with the WRN NI had concluded”.

Féile an Phobail said its representatives at the meeting were “unaware of this development during the course of the meeting” and that its “decision to withdraw this event stands”.

Meanwhile, WRN NI said the meeting “did not result in a satisfactory resolution”.

A WRN NI spokesperson said the group “wrote to Féile yesterday to inform them that we would commence legal proceedings if our event was not reinstated”.

“We are now left with no choice but to proceed,” said WRN NI.

It added that legal proceedings can be “withdrawn at any time should Féile decide to reinstate the event”.

Earlier this week, JK Rowling replied to a WRN NI post on X to say that she would “help with legal costs”.

Meanwhile, communities minister and DUP MLA Gordon Lyons today told BBC Radio Ulster that he would consider withdrawing money from the festival in “future years” over the issue.

“If you are saying that you’re a festival that welcomes debate, and that welcomes engagement, then you shouldn’t be afraid of hearing what people have to say,” said Lyons.

“I think we do need to have a debate and a discussion about the protection of women’s rights and same-sex spaces and how you can protect women and girls,” he added.

“I don’t understand why there is this lobby against having this conversation.”

When asked if funding could be withdrawn immediately, Lyons remarked: “Possibly in future years… this isn’t about targeting anybody, but it’s about adhering to the rules.”

In a statement following Lyons’s appearance on BBC Radio Ulster, Féile an Phobail said it had “offered to meet with WRN NI today at a location in Belfast city centre” and that it is awaiting a response.