MOUNTSHANNON Arts Festival gets underway this Thursday, May 26, showcasing a wealth of talent and creativity in music, visual art, literature and more.
The theme of ‘Community’ is at the heart of this year’s event, which will involve performances, workshops and exhibitions, running until Sunday, June 6.
As always, the festival’s focus will be on erasing the boundaries between artists and audience. Events range from Full Circle Playback Theatre, a songwriting workshop, Origami workshops, a community art installation and the inaugural Mountshannon Maracatu, a family-friendly community parade.
Mel White, Chair of the Volunteer Committee said the return to full, live, in-person activities is particularly welcome after the pandemic restrictions.
“We are so excited for this festival after two years of lockdown and we have been supported by the local community in every way,” she said.
“We have brought together an eclectic mix of actors, musicians, artists and creative writers to create an experience like no other this year. We would like to encourage everyone to come and join us either as a participant or a spectator.”
The opening of the festival on May 26 will coincide with the launch of an exhibition of photographs from The Clare Champion’s award-winning John Kelly. ‘Between You, Me and the Wall’, will showcase more than 30 years of work captured in every corner of the county. The show will be launched at 6pm in Scariff Library.
The festival’s headline act is singer-songwriter John Spillane. The award-winning musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer will perform within the hallowed historical walls of St Caimin’s 18th Century Church of Ireland, on Saturday, June 4 at 8pm.
Rooted in people, place and story, John’s music transports the listener, and his live performances captivate audiences around the world and his performance in this intimate venue is not to be missed.
John will be supported by rising star Julie Martin, recent winner of Clare FM’s Local Hero Talent Search. From Ballyvaughan, Julie is a musician and songwriter with a voice and presence that belies her age. From her earliest days, Julie has been immersed in music of all genres inspiring her to write and play her own songs.
Ahead of the eagerly-anticipated gig, John will hold a masterclass at the Aistear Building from 11am to 2pm, designed to get to the heart of song writing and storytelling.
John will focus on helping participants lose whatever inhibitions and fears they may have about writing songs while also sharing tricks of the trade on verse, chorus, repetition and rhyme. Songwriters should be prepared to sing and embrace the joy of the process.
Other workshop highlights include The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Saturday, May 28 from 11am to 1.30pm. All will not be quite as it seems as the Hatter will host a most unusual tea party for children in Mountshannon.
This is set to be a fun and quirky event featuring an arts and crafts workshop for children to create their very own top hat with the guidance of professional milliner, Ailish McElroy. The Mad Hatter herself will be there to greet guests on arrival before they make their way down the rabbit hole to the magical hat-making workshop setting.
On the same day, there will be distinctly oriental flavour at an origami workshop, at 4pm in An Cupán Cafe. Japanese artist, Sachiko Kobayashi will demonstrate why paper crafting, mainly origami, is her passion.
She will impart the knowledge she uses to create greeting cards and paper-cutting art “Origami has been around me all my life and I am delighted to share the joy of folding with you in Ireland,” said Sachiko.
Full details of all events can be found on Mountshannonarts.ie and the festival’s social media channels.