Nenagh Castlefest is going ahead
Nenagh Castlefest is set to go ahead as planned over the first weekend of September.
Insurance has been secured and a bill of top quality music acts has been lined up for Nenagh's first post-pandemic festival. While the numbers attending will have to be limited, organisers the St Patrick's Festival Committee hope that Castlefest will serve up a long-awaited local celebration of community spirit.
Mike Denver will headline the open-air event on Saturday, September 4, with further musical entertainment to look forward to from and Muriel and Fran, and Knockshegowna's Aishling Rafferty.
Showband Sunday, September 5, will see The Conquerors take to the stage with Trudi Lalor. Ormond Comhaltas musicians will be playing traditional Irish music on both days.
There will also be a designated area for children's entertainment, stalls where food can be purchased and exhibiting arts and crafts. Nenagh Brass Band will kick off the proceedings on Saturday, with the Castle Field gates opening at 1.30pm on both days. Saturday's entertainment will conclude at 9.30pm, and the festival is to draw to a close at 6pm on Sunday.
Admission to Castlefest is free, though the organising committee will have a donation bucket and would appreciate any contribution that people can make. Having had to cancel last year's Castlefest - twice - committee spokesperson Cllr Hughie McGrath hoped the local community would get behind this festival.
“We have limited funding and it's going to have to be scaled back a bit,” he said. “But we're going to do the best we can so hopefully it will be a good weekend.
“I would ask that everyone going please be responsible and help make this a successful event by adhering to the Covid advice at the time.” Cllr McGrath also pointed out that children in attendance must be accompanied by an adult.
Having grown from strength to strength in its first three years (2017 to 2019), Cllr McGrath wanted to keep the spirt of Castlefest alive amid hopes of returning to full stature again next summer. He praised all the members of the hardworking St Patrick's Festival Committee for the effort they have put into the fourth Castlefest, and he took the opportunity to thank the local authority for supporting the event.
“It wouldn't be going ahead without the support of Nenagh Municipal District and my fellow councillors, and I'm very grateful for that,” Cllr McGrath said.
Volunteers are needed to help steward the event; there may also be some space available for anyone wanting to exhibit artwork.
Interested parties are welcome contact Cllr McGrath at 087 2559323 or hughie.mcgrath@tipperarycoco.ie.
See also the Nenagh Castlefest 2021 Facebook page for updates.