Derek O'Connor previews two of Ireland’s top summer events in two out-of-the-way locations
The Big Question: What is it exactly that makes a good arts festival truly memorable these days? Answer: the same thing that always made a good arts festival memorable - the events.
The Irish summer is as chock full of Significant Arts Events as ever, all vying for attention, jostling to confirm their presence, praying that the punters turn up and the rain holds off. Established cornerstones of the calendar - the Galway Arts Festival, for example - can to some degree depend on an established audience eager to sample a programme that continues to, more often than not, set the standard; the others bang on, often understaffed and financially undernourished, driven to make it happen.
And, if all else fails, book The American Drifters. Sure, everybody loves The American Drifters.
Take two notable festivals, then, both serving significant corners of the country oft neglected in the larger scheme of things, and both pulsating with artistic activity. We're talking about Clonmel's Junction Festival and Donegal's Earagail Arts Festival. Capable in recent years of delivering impressive programming that often outshines any number of larger events, Earagail and Junction are admirable examples of festivals that, more than anything, strive to raise the bar and deliver the goods. This year, only one of them has booked The American Drifters.
"For me, it's about programming events that hit the popular and artistic mark," says David Teevan, festival director at Junction. "Clonmel isn't all that big, so word of mouth still carries a huge impact. People run into each other at different events, friends and neighbours, and we programme Junction so that it fills nooks and crannies about the town. You can catch two or three things in a day. That way, it's grown in an incredibly organic fashion."
Teevan's day job running touring agency 10:42 Productions provides him with easier access to the type of quality acts that have seen Junction go from strength to strength since its inception five years ago. Indeed, this year's programme adeptly hits the aforementioned mix of the popular - landing the female singer-songwriter of the hour, KT Tunstall, for a Clonmel show is a true coup - with the artistic.
The intriguing line-up mixes homegrown talents aplenty (such crowd pleasers as Jason Byrne and Mark Geary alongside Timothy O'Grady's spectacular live recreation of his novel I Could Read the Sky) with a formidable world music bill (Israeli violinist Yair Dalal, Mexican power trio Más y Más) and a spattering of international theatre (from Donal O'Kelly's acclaimed The Cambria to Germany's Famelie Flöz with Ristorante Immortale).
"We've been careful not to grow too fast," stresses Teevan. "We've been bringing new venues on board every year, we've always made sure we've had a strong community element to Junction, and through that have built a very loyal audience. You come to Clonmel and you can immediately tell that the festival is on, it's incredibly pleasing. It works, and that's what matters."
The Junction Festival works its magic in a relatively contained area. In contrast, the Earagail Arts Festival strives to provide entertainment in venues across the north-west, a policy that can often result in a rather unique juxtaposition of place and performance. Under the directorship of Angela McLaughlin, Earagail has brought a variety of cultural heavy-hitters to Donegal, while making sure to showcase the region's own mainstays. The tradition is continued by this year's lively Earagail programme, which hosts everything from the Abbey on tour (with Tom Mac Intyre's What Happened Bridgie Cleary) and Woodstock veteran Richie Havens to artworks from Bill Viola and John Cage (Making Time, a group show at Churchill's stunning Glebe Gallery).
The true centrepiece, the heart of this year's Earagail activities, is Oidreacht (Legacy), a series of musical extravaganzas celebrating Leo and Baba Brennan, local legends and parents to a formidable musical dynasty that has given the world Clannad (reforming especially for the occasion) and Enya.
"The festival raises the banner for Donegal, both nationally and internationally," says Patricia McBride, general manager of Letterkenny's splendid An Grianán theatre, a key focal point for Earagail activities. "There's a growing confidence here, which I like to think we've contributed to. Donegal can now act as a host to world-class artists, while producing significant work itself."
Indeed, one of the most enticing prospects in this year's Earagail Festival programme is An Grianán's own production of The Witchin' Well, a new piece of theatre for children by renowned storyteller Joe Brennan that will tour local venues before landing, handily enough, at Junction.
"We had a difficulty sourcing quality children's shows for the festival," says McBride. "There's really not a lot out there at the moment. It just seemed like the perfect time for us to commission a piece from Joe Brennan, a very talented man, who has created something with a lot of local flavour. We're able to cast locally, to employ local talent to bring the piece together."
Thus, the arts landscape truly comes alive in the most unexpected places; be it Earagail offering everything from Shakespeare in Letterkenny Town Park to a massive outdoor sculpture trail on Magheraroarty beach, or Junction bringing Bollywood sounds and Rajasthani carnival to the streets of Clonmel.
Let's begin again. What really, really makes a good arts festival truly memorable these days? Punters. And plenty of them. Make the effort.
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JUNCTION'S 5 TO CATCH
YAIR DALAL & FRIENDS
An unmissable Irish appearance from the Israeli musician, BBC World Music Awards nominee and WOMAD favourite, a tireless peace activist and transcendent violinist. A good place to begin? Dalal's classic 2002 album, Asmar. July 5th, The Main Guard
RISTORANTE IMMORTALE
A former Earagail Arts Festival fave, Germany's Famelie Flöz are virtuosos of wordless mask theatre; this crowd-pleaser, set in a rather chaotic eaterie, is one of their finest, and truly one for all the family. July 3rd-5th, White Memorial Theatre
CELTIC MIDDLE EASTERN FESTIVAL FINAL CONCERT
This is "the junction" at the Junction Festival, whereupon visiting musicians (notably the aforementioned Yair Dalal) collaborate with the cream of Irish talent. Should be the beginning of something beautiful. July 8th, Old St Mary's Church
TICK MY BOX
An award-winner at last year's Dublin Fringe Festival, this sharp, whip-smart speed-dating comedy is probably the most enjoyable new piece of Irish Theatre you'll see this year. July 4th-8th, O'Keeffe's, Parnell Street
KT TUNSTALL
This year's breakthrough singer-songwriter is a cut above, thanks to an impeccable musical pedigree (she's a former associate of Fife's increasingly legendary Fence Collective) and a guitar case packed with quality tunes. July 8th, Mulcahy's Music Venue
EARAGAIL'S 5 TO CATCH
THE WITCHIN' WELL
Storyteller Joe Brennan's new play for children, directed by the talented Rachel Devir (who also features in the cast) promises to delight wains from Ramelton to Downings. July 5th-7th, various venues
TIME
A series of unique art exhibitions and related events celebrating (a) the 100th anniversary of Einstein's Theory of Relativity and (b) the United Nations year of Science, the highlight being a pair of retrospective shows from French painter and theoretical scientist Jacques Mandelbrot. From July 4th at Letterkenny Arts Centre, Donegal County Museum, Glebe Gallery, An Grianán Theatre and other venues
OIDREACHT (LEGACY)
Celebrating the lives of Leo and Baba Brennan with a series of one-off musical get-togethers are assorted friends and family members. Will the elusive Enya make an appearance? Your guess is as good as ours. July 13th/ 15th/17th, various venues
AMAJUBA - LIKE DOVES WE RISE
The only Irish performances from the award-winning South African theatre company, following acclaimed runs in Edinburgh and London, with a show that explores the realities of life before and after Apartheid. An absolute must-see. July 12th-16th, An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny
KATHRYN WILLIAMS
Mercury Prize nominee and crossover folk goddess, the sublime Miss W makes an unmissable Donegal debut. Her new album, Over Fly Over, is rather wonderful too. July 8th, Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny
