Introduction
In a year when North and South Tipperary became one, it was fitting that we took ‘connecting’ as our theme for the festival 2014. With this in mind, we have placed particular importance on connecting community groups to the festival and also to each other by taking part in workshops in The Create Café, the festival’s arts café, facilitated by Cher Gleeson. As an Arts Festival in Cashel, we also looked at what connected us to the place, Cashel, asking local school children to imagine what Cashel means to them and what it might be in the future. We look forward to sharing their visions for our future.
To celebrate diversity within our community, the Transition Year students from Cashel Community School decorated The Create Café taking inspiration from the landscape around us and the people who live in that landscape. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the festival, but often unseen by the general public, is our outreach programme, quite literally ensuring that the arts festival reaches out in many directions to community groups, senior citizens and schools in our community. We are also delighted that community craft groups have come on board by making lengths of beautiful bunting to bedeck the streets and bring the festival visually to Cashel town centre.
As always, we offer something to tempt everyone, with a fine selection of workshops, exhibitions, theatre, literature, music and family entertainment. Our Festival Choir will come together for the third time, bringing such a huge amount of energy and enjoyment to the festival. This year, we welcome Nóirín Ní Riain and Moley Ó Súilleabháin to direct our Choir and also to perform in our Sunday evening concert. In this weekend of wonderful music, the renowned Jimmy MacCarthy will perform in Brú Ború on Saturday night.
We also hope to surprise you as you catch sight of one of the rushwork figures we have commissioned from Gerardine Wisdom as you do your shopping, or by entertaining you with music and short plays while you have a cup of coffee in Spearman’s, The Heritage Centre or a bite to eat in Feehan’s. Enjoy browsing our programme and we look forward to seeing you during the festival!
Rebecca Lenehan
Chairperson
