The ever-popular Clonmel Busking Festival is getting into full swing

Clonmel Busking Festival, now in its twelfth year, and highly-regarded on the Irish music calendar, promises some great live entertainment this weekend, with an impressive line-up of great music running right through from today, Friday until late Sunday night.

The festival was officially launched by Mayor of Clonmel, Richie Molloy last night, Thursday.

The Kilkennys, the Dublin City Ramblers, Jukebox Gypsy, The Mons Wheeler Band and Alan Power and The Aftershocks are some of the acts who will be performing over the weekend.

Under the Arches at the Main Guard will be the focal point during daytime today, Friday and Saturday, with a full schedule of some very fine bands slotted in for both days for the enjoyment of audiences and passers-by in the O’Connell Street, Gladstone Street, Mitchel Street area of the town.

Also throughout Saturday there will be a busking competition running concurrently at East Lane, with three different categories of competition - Under 14, Under 18 and Senior.

The winners of each section will then be invited to take centre stage under the Arches on Saturday evening between 5 and 6 pm. Each category winner will receive €100, with the overall winner receiving €500.

On both Friday and Saturday evenings, from Drivers 19th Hole pub/restaurant at the top of Irishtown right down to Annie Kehoe’s at the bottom of Parnell Street - with lots of other venues in between - there will be a great selection of bands of different genres and tastes for pundits to sample.

Sunday is always a big day for the Busking Festival, with the free open air entertainment at the Denis Burke Park from 11.30 am to 3.30pm. Now called the “Lark in the Park,” the programme has been slightly tweaked from previous years but the main attractions will be Banna Chluain Meala (11.30am), The Waheys (1pm) and Alan Power and the Aftershocks (2pm).

There will be plenty of sideshows running also for the full family experience including a Pet Show, a Dog Show and lots of guaranteed entertainment for the kids.

Once events have concluded at the Denis Burke Park, attention turns to the family event at Lily’s Lane (beside Hearns Hotel) where four further bands, Papa Zitas, Mons Wheeler, Deise Brass and The Bellefords are booked in from 3.30 until 7pm, in that order. 

And to round off Sunday evening there will be live bands booked in at least a half a dozen venues throughout the town and a bit of fun also with the Drag Queen Music Bingo in The Coachman at 6 pm.