Popular performers and tribute to local heroes complete a wonderful Clonmel Junction Festival

For the 20th anniversary edition of Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, the team welcomed back old friends and celebrated local heroes.
Popular performers Royseven, Jerry Fish and Mick Flannery combined with a tribute to celebrated local heroes like Frank Patterson and Mick Delahunty, gave a stage to theatre-makers Eve O’Mahony, Amy Hill and James Whelan, and musicians Vale, Ruairi de Leastar and Clonmel Laptop Ensemble, created a festival feeling under difficult circumstances.
People have watched from all over with more than 4,000 registered views throughout Ireland and Europe, from as far away as Singapore and Peru, and as close to home as Clonmel and Kilcash.
In our mixture of in-town and online, we’ve had 58 musicians playing 20 concerts, as well as six plays, four art exhibitions and five trails around Clonmel.
IUNVA Post 24 manned their stations as stewards at Overlook: A Kickham Barracks Story, and a dedicated team of volunteers gave out information, assisted with ticket purchase, and even bought a birthday cake!
From the end of June, people were entranced by the big white geodesic dome being built in Mick Delahunty Square, and although Government restrictions didn’t lift as hoped to allow indoor audiences, the artists and musicians were entranced with this very special new performance venue for Clonmel, which has so much potential – and excellent acoustics!
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights included Collins Hall, the play with music created by Jack Reardon and James O’Donovan with actors Eanna Grogan and Meadhbh Maxwell, and musicians Emmet Donlon, Killian Browne, Cathal Ryan and Brendan Hickey, as well as some very special music sets from Gavin Glass and Edel Meade.
Lucy Phelan’s Conversations With The Tain was a thought-provoking outdoor installation that invited participation, while Claire Murphy’s Here Is Where I Am at South Tipperary Arts Centre is a reflective photographic exhibition that continues on through the summer.
The Junction Festival Dome has been well and truly launched – and has survived torrential rain, high winds, and the occasional ray of sunshine.
It’s been a festival like no other, but one that will live on in the memories of the team, the artists and the audiences.