A wonderful weekend of music, stories, and community spirit at Tipperary festival

 Clonmel Applefest can take a truly deserved rest after what was one of its most engaging and lively weekends to date.
Running from Thursday through Sunday, the 2025 edition of the festival brought together familiar favourites, new experiments, and a strong sense of community.

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The festival opened with a firm crowd-pleaser: The Clonmel Story Slam, presented by Joe Whelan in Bakers Bar. Set around the theme “the ties that bind”, eight diverse storytellers took the stage, offering heartfelt and often hilarious tales that filled the venue to capacity.

Another proud moment came with the launch of Families of Clonmel in the elegant surrounds of the Townhall. This fourth publication by Clonmel Applefest gathered writers, families, and supporters to celebrate a book that has become a cherished local tradition.

Music was a constant thread throughout the weekend, with this year’s resident band, Sun Merchant, drawing audiences again and again. Known for their genre-defying blend of alt-rock, Balkan folk, and gypsy jazz, the group performed no fewer than eight times. Their collaborations brought fresh surprises, including guest spots from an American clarinet and saxophone player (by way of Cork) and local musician Richie Delahunty from Cahir. Their double bill with Cork’s Rasa Nua in Gleeson’s showcased sitars and tablas, while the newly revamped stage hinted at an exciting future for ticketed music events in the venue.

Saturday’s Food Soirée at The Hub was a chance for friends to gather after a packed day, pairing delicious food with more music from Sun Merchant. Earlier, the Plaza had been transformed for the Harvest Fair, where families enjoyed food stalls, coffee trucks, crafts, apple pressing, circus performances, and live music.

Sunshine carried the day, adding to the wholesome buzz. Traditional set dancing and the Middle Eastern dabke kept both children and adults on their feet, reinforcing the festival’s spirit of cultural exchange.

Sunday gave a platform to local talent in the form of PechaKucha at Bakers. Eight artists presented their work in rapid-fire storytelling format, a testament to the festival’s commitment to nurturing creativity at every level.

The closing event, The Burning Cave, was a daring and memorable finale. Curated by local electronic artist and producer Eoin Hally (Vale), it combined spoken word, improvised soundscapes, and performances by Sun Merchant in the atmospheric setting of Channon’s Forge. The result was a bold experiment that pushed boundaries and gave emerging voices a powerful platform.

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Once again, Clonmel Applefest has proven itself as more than just a festival—it is a showcase of community pride, cultural curiosity, and artistic celebration. The board, committee, and volunteers can be rightly proud of creating a weekend that both honoured tradition and embraced innovation, leaving Clonmel buzzing with memories and anticipation for next year.