terryglass-arts-festival

Terryglass Arts Festival

Attendances at the 15th Annual Terryglass Arts Festival were significantly higher than previous years with many of the night events sold out well in advance.

The festival which concluded last Sunday featured virtuoso violinist Vladimir on Friday night and a rocking musical cabaret from the Bee- Loud Glade on Thursday night. The festival was officially launched on Wednesday 14th August by the Mayor of North Tipperary County Council, Cllr. Ger Darcy.

Opening the festival, Cllr. Ger Darcy paid tribute to the festival which “has always been to the forefront of bringing the best of local, national and International talent to us in our own locale and consistently run a top class event.”

He congratulated the festival committee and its members past and present for their commitment over the past fifteen years.

“Fifteen years of presenting high quality festivals is a huge achievement for any organisation and most particularly for an organisation which is predominantly volunteer based“said Mayor Darcy. The Terryglass Arts Festival is to be hugely admired for this achievement alone as it is often easier in the early years of an event to sustain enthusiasm and energy but to consistently maintain its standards and drive demonstrates strong leadership, strong support and audience loyalty and satisfaction,” concluded Mayor Darcy.

Festival Chairperson Valerie Cotter thanked the Festival’s funders and sponsors for their support of the festival.

“The Terryglass Arts Festival is a very well recognised festival throughout the calendar year and this does not just happen by chance,” she said.

“I would like to thank North Tipperary County Council, The Arts Council of Ireland, Failte Ireland, Waterways Ireland and of course all our local sponsors. If we did not have the support of our funders, sponsors, volunteers and a very hard working committee we would not be here celebrating such a great event,” concluded Ms. Cotter.

Following the official opening, there was a special screening of the award winning film “Irish Folk Furniture” by internationally celebrated local film maker Tony Donoghue.

A large crowd attended the festival opening on Wednesday which continued a special celebratory birthday concert featuring young local musicians- singer/songwriter Riona O’Madagain and tenor Conor O’Meara.

A highlight of the festival with audiences was the Irish premiere of  ‘The Travelling Circus’ Exhibition from Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre. This magical theatrical performance lasting just twelve minutes drew gasps of admiration and appreciation from young and old.

The Terryglass Arts Festival workshop programme was very popular with families and many of the 58 workshops were booked out well in advance. From millinery designing to traditional woodturning, contemporary dance to African drumming and coderDojo there was plenty to entertain children of all ages.

There was more family entertainment at Terryglass Quay on Saturday night 17th August with performances from street artists Streetwise capped off by the traditional after dark monster fireworks display.

A hit with all ages was the Family Fun Day on Sunday 18th August with an outdoor Craft and Food market, face painting, street theatre with Streetwise, Goldilocks and the Three Bears Puppet show with Miriam Lambert. Non stop free musical entertainment was provided all afternoon from 6 piece band Ebony followed by original, energetic gypsy blues and alternative folk music from the Calvinists.

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