The upcoming Oranmore Arts Festival promises four days of mind blowing music and world class family fun with its recently unveiled lineup.
Now in its second year, the 2019 Oranmore Arts Festival is building on last year’s success with a world class programme of music, theatre, art, film, and literature from May 16 – 19.
The sold-out headline act Mundy, who’ll be giving an intimate solo show in Oranmore Castle, is just the tip of the iceberg of amazing experiences that can be enjoyed over the four day festival.
The festival will officially open with a performance by Helen Hancock, a soprano and Oranmore resident who will be accompanied by the Marine Institute Choir.
The concert will be held on Thursday May 16 at 7pm in Keane’s Music Venue and is free to attend.
Just up the main street in Armorica Restaurant an art exhibition featuring the work of Christopher Banahan will be opened at 7.30pm followed by live jazz by the Koko Ensemble at 8.30pm.
Ciara McDonagh, Chair of the festival, said that after last year’s success “we felt that the 2019 programme had to up the ante”.
This year’s programme once again focuses on the theme of Meitheal both to highlight the sense of community in the coastal village and to encourage a tradition of working together for the common good.
With local creative artists, performers, and businesses all pitching in to put on events across pubs, hotels, restaurants, and any great space that’s open, the 2019 Oranmore Arts Festival aims to firmly stake its place in Galway’s festival season.
“We’re making the most of the spaces and we look forward to working with people who make Oranmore such a vibrant community,” Ciara added.
“The festival is a conduit through which artists, businesses, families and the wider community can communicate and discuss projects.”
“We can already see new collaborations forming and the festival is acting as a catalyst to encourage a new artistic energy in our village.”
One very special event is the inaugural performance of Amhrán Mór, a multi-generational choir that was set up just this year and has proved a smash hit in Oranmore, with more than 60 members of all ages, sometimes with three generations of the same family singing together.
They will perform in Nano Nagle Hall, Calasanctius on Saturday afternoon at 3.30pm.
There’s plenty of family events to bring the kids along to such as a performance of Pink & Blue, a non-verbal clowning show on Friday at 1.45pm in Keanes Music Venue.
Other family events include a Story & a Craft workshop by two local businesses, the Babbling Book Club and Toodlelou Creativity Lab in the library on Saturday morning at 11.15, Circus Skills workshops for the whole family on Sunday morning, and two Baby Disco’s on Sunday afternoon at 11.45 and 1pm in the Community Centre.
Children of all ages will also be delighted with the return of the fairy door trail, this year enhanced by the participation of the local Scouts.
That’s not to say there’s nothing for the adults to kick back and enjoy on their own. Thursday at 9:30pm is Open Mic night at the Porterhouse.
The next day will see a tour and tasting event at Galway Hooker Brewery and a concert by Deirbhile Ni Bhrolcháin and friends will take place in Oranmore Castle on Friday night at 8pm, promising to be a night to remember.
Some of the other events taking place over the four days, include the launch of two local Small Town Big Ideas projects in Unit 4, Tesco Complex, and and art exhibition by Lorraine Fletcher at Brazco Carrig Lair.
Another art exhibition from Active in Age will take place in the Tea Room, Armorica, and a live cake build by local talent Corinna McGuire with a cake cutting to close the festival in Brazco Carrig Lair on Sunday evening at 6pm.
Visit our website www.oranmoreartsfestival.ie for more events and further details. Tickets available from oranmoreartsfestival.eventbrite.ie.
This initiative is supported by Galway County Council. The Oranmore Arts Festival is a not for profit arts organization.
