No rain, no trouble and a confirmed return for the Westport Festival

No rain, no trouble and a confirmed return for the Westport Festival of Music and Food


Neill O’Neill

THE promoters of the Westport Festival of Music and Food have stated to The Mayo News that the event will return on June 28 and 29 next year, for its third instalment.
After a weekend where preliminary official numbers for attendance reached approximately 12,000 overall, the Gardaí in Westport reported not one incident of note, no arrests and no need for reinforcements, while the businesses in the town saw boom times, with all pubs licenced to open late, and all busy for the two days. Accommodation providers were equally busy, while restaurants, fast food outlets, taxi drivers and shops all reported a surge in customer levels.
A huge local turnout attended the festival, where a range of top class musical and comedy acts were on show, along with renowned chefs, and a host of other attractions, food suppliers and bars, at what was a very family-friendly two-day festival.
Though dull for the most part and windy at times, the rain gods also smiled on Westport, and with no precipitation, wellingtons became only a fashion accessory as the lawn in front of Westport House remained in perfect and dry condition for the crowds, with families picnicking and children playing as the two days rolled by.
A spokesman for the event organiser said they were delighted with the weekend, and while there will be ‘a few tweaks and some additions’ for next year, there won’t be ‘any radical changes’ and the festival will remain a family-orientated event, as they seek to develop its potential even further as a niche festival for the west of Ireland.
Westport was buzzing on Sunday as Elvis Costello and a fireworks display brought the 2013 event to a spectacular close. On Saturday night Christy Moore, fresh from headlining on the Main Stage, played an impromptu couple of songs in Matt Molloy’s, as global stars, locals and visitors rubbed shoulders and socialised in the town like old friends. There were after parties in The Plaza on both nights, and festival-goers could be seen everywhere soaking up the charms of what Westport has to offer.
A Garda spokesperson said they were delighted with how the weekend passed off, and outlined that they would regularly see more incidents on any weekend of the year, never mind the busy summer season when the town’s population swells or when there are thousands of extra people in the town centre for such an event.
Any incidents they dealt with were described as completely routine, were well away from the festival and had noting at all to do with it.