Ireland’s newest Arts Festival has been announced in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon with music from Daithi & Elaine Mai, a performance of John B Keane’s Big Maggie and a panel discussion of the 2023 GAA Championship with Joe Brolly and Andy Moran all on the bill.
The BallaghDream Arts Festival takes place between August 5th and August 13th next and begins with a Ballaghaderreen Players’ production of John B Keane’s monumental ‘Big Maggie’ at St Nathy’s College on August 5th. It ends the following Sunday with London’s Pilgrim Players version of Shakespeare’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in the open-air at Edmondstown House.
Renowned traditional Irish group Lúnasa will play in the Trad Night at St Nathy’s Cathedral with Matt Molloy and Sean Keane of the Chieftains, joined by dancer Ronan Kelly and acclaimed fiddle players, sisters Cora and Breda Smyth.
Thursday, August 10th will be Classical Night at the Cathedral with Ireland’s leading pianist John O’Conor accompanied by cellist Ailbhe McDonagh, as well as Chloe Ewing and soprano friends while on August 9th writer Joseph O’Connor, whose latest work `My Father’s House’ has been topping best-seller lists, will take part in Literary Night at St Nathy’s College, accompanied by St Nathy’s Cathedral choir. This evening will include award-winning Galway poet Mary O’Malley.
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On Friday, August 11th GAA pundit, columnist and barrister Joe Brolly will be joined for a discussion on Championship 2023 and Connacht football at St Nathy’s auditorium by local heroes John O’Mahony, Andy Moran, Seanie McDermot.
The Battle of the Bands final will be in Molly’s, Barrack St, on August 10th, with Live Electronica from Daithi & Elaine Mai (supported by Death Milkshake) at The Castle, New St, on August 11th and on Sunday evening August 13th, Noni Stapleton will explain how her boyfriend fell for a heifer, in ‘Charolais’.
There will also be an exhibition of paintings by leading West of Ireland artists at Mulligan’s Main St, buskers in the streets, Word a Day at Dillon’s Door, an art and poetry trail all over town as well as free arts, dance and wellness workshops for kids.
Ticketing details and full festival programme at: www.ballaghdreamartsfest.ie.
