Apple and Heritage Fair a highlight of Clonmel's new festival

Final preparations are being made for this weekend's Clonmel Applefest, with the event kicking off this evening (Friday) at 6pm with the Land of Plenty exhibition and Spoken Word event, both at the Arts Centre in Nelson Street.  

The evening event will feature a wide array of original writing, celebrating the abundance of the local landscape and the exhibition, which continues into next week, presents a large selection of artists working in oil, ceramics, textiles and wood.

The highlight of the weekend will be the Apple and Heritage Fair, which takes place in The Friary car park and adjacent streets on Saturday, September 29. 

The much-missed Bulmers Appleyard in Dowd's Lane, where once upon a time large amounts of apples were unloaded prior to crushing and pressing, will be opened up for a stroll down memory lane. A smaller version of the pressing process will be displayed, with fresh juice being hand-pressed by members of the public.  

Other activities will include basket-making, an apple-themed centrepiece workshop, plastercasting, a biodiversity game, beekeeping demonstrations, woodcarving and rushworks, in addition to a selection of food and beverages to taste and buy while relaxing on picnic tables.  

The nearby Pooh Corner on Bank Lane will attract families and young people with storytelling and a full programme of music on offer.

Later on Saturday, at 8pm, a specially-written short comedy will be unveiled at the Town Hall, which will bring together historical figures Charles Bianconi, Dan Hearn and Lady Blessington for an eventful musical soirée, where delicious Tipperary produce will be sampled along with Longways cider and a selection of wines by the Wine Buff.  

Tickets are on sale via the Applefest website.

Sunday will feature the Vale of Honey Day below the Gas House Bridge at New Quay car park, where a large range of community groups and performances will entertain. There will also be a freshly-cooked pig on a spit and other food stalls from 11am.

Picnic tables will be prominently displayed to encourage people to drink coffee or eat communally by the river, while trying out salsa dancing, rowing or some other activity such as repairing a bike or home composting.  

A foraging and a quaker walk will give scope to learn more about the local heritage, and for those eager to discover beekeeping, the 40th South Tipperary Honey Show will continue into the afternoon at the nearby CTI.

Clonmel Applefest will finish with a Cider and Film screening of the Symphony of the Soil at the nearby Baker’s bar, followed by a discussion moderated by Richard Auler.    

People are encouraged to come along and enjoy this celebration of Cluain Meala, the Vale of Honey. 

For more information, follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter and the website www.clonmelapplefest.ie