Celebrating summer in the Burren

The villages of Ballyvaughan and Fanore will play host to the first ever summer festival Féile an tSamhraidh or Burren Summer Festival next week. Events run over the June Bank Holiday from June 1 to 4.

“This is a community-based festival” said Tom O’Donnell, one of the organisers of the festival. “The festival offers an excellent family fun weekend at great value prices. There will be lots of free street music, dance, entertainment and activities throughout the weekend. Ballyvaughan and Fanore are very accessible only an hour from Galway, Ennis and Shannon and one-and-a-half hours from Limerick,” he added.

 

Mr O’Donnell stated, “with such a huge variety of entertainment laid on for the weekend, there is something for everyone”.

In conjunction with Féile an tSamhraidh, Aillwee Cave and the Burren Birds of Prey Centre will hold an open day from noon until 5pm on Friday, June 1 with free admission. There will be a free traditional music welcome concert with Chris Droney and friends at 7.30pm in St John’s Hall on Friday evening.

On Saturday June 2, Ballyvaughan Community Field will be the venue for a concert featuring Bagatelle, popular Munster band The Reverse, Galway band Lexington 125 along with Wallop-The-Cat, Tommy O’Neill and a host of other acts.

The event is aimed at families and has variety of events to keep all ages entertained including bouncy castle, face painting, hog spit roast from 6pm until 11pm.

Gates open from 5pm.

The Swallows Tail Céili Band will play in O’Donoghues Pub, Fanore at 9.30pm on Sunday, June 3.

“We were very lucky to get this band at such short notice” said organiser Gerry O’Sullivan, and “I have no doubt that they will draw a huge crowd on the night”.

The festival wraps up on Monday with the BOB’s Vintage Car Run starting at midday and the Guinness Jazz Band in the Square in Ballyvaughan at 3pm.

“That there has never been a better time to visit Ballyvaughan and Fanore than the June Bank Holiday Weekend.  With so much to see and do from music sessions in the pubs, to boat trips, children’s céili workshops and walking and cycling events with Ireland’s premier clubs, there’s something for everyone,” Gerry promised.