Spleodar goes out with a bang!

After five days of frenzied fun, fabulous events and wicked workshops, the 25th Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival has drawn to a close with a magical extravaganza with seven rock bands from across Tipperary performing.

In association with Music Generation, the audience was certainly given a treat on Saturday, November 2 - ending things on a high note. With 35 youth musicians involved, the evening was a true celebration of up-and-coming musical talent in Tipperary.

Other highlights from the festival included the free fireworks display and Halloween parade –-with record numbers attending this year. The parade was a spectacular showcase of young talent with Nenagh Youth Theatre working the ghost and witch puppets, while the drummers who attended the packed drumming workshop earlier in the festival came out in force to bring spine-tingling beats.

Drop-in workshops with art, stone-carving, mandala-making and ice-sculpting kept everyone enthralled while puppet shows, the Museum in a Box, a Treasure Haunt, spooky circuits workshops, gameshows, storytelling and a selection of dance workshops ensured there really was something for everyone.

ENTRANCING SHOP WINDOW DISPLAYS

Acknowledging the amazing contribution shops in Nenagh made during the festival, decorating their shops with entrancing displays that, in some cases, were quite literally good enough to eat, Trish Taylor Thompson, Artistic Director of Nenagh Arts Centre said: “Choosing a winner for the Best-Dressed Window competition was one of my first tasks. It was a difficult decision to make with over 50 shops participating.

“We were so impressed with all the entrants but particular mention should go to Finnerty’s, the Sue Ryder shop for their artful upcycling, Quigley’s Bakery, Da Vinci’s Hair Art, The Hair Confident and Lisa Baker for their imaginative and eye-catching window displays. We were set a very difficult task to choose one but the overall winner was Micheál Ó Coileáin Bakery with a very strong entry, mixing spooky decorations with tempting-looking Halloween-themed confectionery.

“We are delighted to recognise such a well-established business in the town, an establishment that has been in business for 55 years. Congratulations to all who took part to make Nenagh look so fantastic for the Halloween festival.”

After a highly successful festival full of spine-chilling events and workshops, the Spleodar organising team would like to thank all those who made Spleodar a resounding success.

Trish Taylor Thompson said: “I would like to extend, in particular, thanks to the staff at Nenagh Arts Centre, past and present, who year on year put their all into bringing about an engaging and entertaining festival. From the volunteers to the local people and organisations who have supported the festival in so many ways - thank you.

“Spleodar simply couldn’t happen without the support from our principal funders: The Arts Council, Tipperary County Council, Fáilte Ireland and Nenagh Arts Centre. We are reliant on the support of so many others including St Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh Municipal District, the OPW, Nenagh Tourist Office, An Garda Síochána, the Civil Defence, Nenagh Men’s Shed and the Arts Office at Tipperary County Council. As the festival draws to a close, we are really very grateful to all of you, our participants, artists and audiences for coming out in force and joining us to celebrate our 25th Spleodar festival. We are delighted our programme of events chimed with you and we will strive to continue to innovate and spark your imaginations in the future.”