Tall ship to grace Ballyvaughan for festival

The historic village of Ballyvaughan is to be transformed as it plays host to the spectacular Festival of the Valleys this weekend.
Taking place from Friday to Sunday, the festival will commence with the much-anticipated arrival of the historic Bessie Ellen tall ship followed by an action-packed weekend of music, song, dance, culture, culinary and sporting events.
In aid of Cancer Care West and described as a ‘jumelle’ of two cultures, Ballyvaughan’s Festival of the Valleys will celebrate the very best of traditional Irish and Mediterranean culture and cuisine. This unique event will merge the unique environment of the Burren with glorious splendour of the Mediterranean.
The highlight of the festival is sure to be the arrival to Ballyvaughan pier of the Bessie Ellen. The ship is due to arrive into the bay and offload its valuable stock of wines at Ballyvaughan Pier at 5pm on Friday.
Festival director Noel O’Loughlen notes the significance of the event, as wine has not been delivered to the west coast under wind power in more than 150 years.
“We have our own vineyard in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France. As soon as the Bessie Ellen has safely anchored everyone can witness the wines that will be available during the festival unloading from the ship.
“We may even open a bottle or two on the pier to celebrate a safe voyage,” he said.
On mornings and early afternoons the festival will present a delightful food and wine fair, where festival-goers can sample products from both the Burren and Languedoc regions.
“We have also lined up a top-class array of musical artists and bands who will perform under cover in our specially designed concert venue, which will be erected right on the Pier in Ballyvaughan,” Mr O’Loughlen added.
The diversity of Mediterranean and traditional Irish cuisine will equally be celebrated with a Cevenol barbeque, which is set to fire up and feed the masses on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
“Forget any barbeque you have ever been to. Our Cevenol experience will give people a chance to see what a real barbeque is all about,” Noel continued.
Friday and Saturday nights will again celebrate both cultures but this time from a musical perspective, with two major concerts featuring Altan, the Young Wolfe Tones, Pascale Valenta, Lexingon 125, Kenny Margant and Boucherie followed by the unique ‘Burren Sessions’.
The festival will come to a close on Sunday with a ‘Jazz on the Bay’ day featuring the Wall Street Swing Band, Galway Bay Jazz Quartet and Ocsession.
For further information on the event or to purchase tickets for the Festival of the Valleys, log onto www.festivalofthevalleys.com or alternatively phone the festival booking line on 091 876659.