Claremorris gearing up for folk fest

ON THE LINE-UP Galway singer/songwriter Ultan Conlan.

CLAREMORRIS is set to be transformed into a carnival of folk music, street performers and artisan food stalls this weekend, with a jam-packed line-up to keep people entertained for the two days.
The festival’s Main Stage, in the Town Hall Theatre, will see performances from internationally renowned Irish acts Mick Flannery, Ultan Conlon and The Night Owls, Emma Langford, Joshua Burnside, The Whileaways, The Lost Brothers, Goitse, Seamus Fogarty and Junior Brother.
The streets around the square in Claremorris will be pedestrianised for the festival which organisers say is set to attract close to a thousand music lovers to the Co Mayo town. Gilligan’s Lane, which links the Main Stage to the Market Square Stage, will be transformed into an artisan farmers’ and craft market filled with locally produced food and craft.
A stretch tent will cover the entire Market Square, which will host lots of exciting national and local acts, including Cúig, Jane Willow, Darragh O’Dea and Derek Ellard. An array of family friendly activities will be laid on for children and parents alike, so all of the family will be kept entertained for hours.
The Whileaways, who are due to take to the Main Stage on the final night of the festival, performed at the launch in Clarmorris Town Hall in April, which was also attended by local business representatives, local councillors and representatives from the South Mayo Development company.
Speaking at the festival launch on Friday the festival’s founder and organiser, Brendan Hurley, said the support he has received has been ‘amazing’.
“It’s great to be able to bring so many big acts to Claremorris, especially in our first year as a festival,” he said. “The support locally has been amazing so far, everyone is really getting behind us and what we’re trying to achieve, hopefully it’s the start of something very special.”
A more intimate Studio Stage inside the Town Hall venue is being curated by The Core –  a creative space for young musicians that is run by the Music Generation Mayo project and gives 12 to 18 years olds an opportunity to engage in music workshops and access to equipment.
The local library will play host to the Spoken Word Stage, which will feature award-winning poet Stephen Murphy, among others.
“While it is great to be able to bring big acts to Claremorris, it’s also wonderful to be able to give some up and coming and local acts the opportunity to play to a large crowd and hopefully give them a boost in the right direction,” Mr Hurley added.

For more information, visit the festival website, www.claremorrisfolkfestival.com.