Clonmel celebrates the apple with successful festival

The organisers of Applefest were delighted with the success of the inaugural festival and the response they received from the public. 

The overall attendance, feedback and participation was excellent, with lots of families and people of all ages attending Saturday’s Apple and Heritage Fair at The Friary car park and plenty more people attending on Sunday for the Vale of Honey event at New Quay Car Park. 

More than forty people attended Michael Ahern’s Quaker walk and several hundred lingered amongst the picnic tables to see performers from the Salsa Dance Club and the Swing Dance Club, as well as a Tai-Chi demonstration and a showcase by members of the Bellvue Academy of Performing Arts.

Above - Artist Niamh Jones and Jeanette O'Dwyer at the Apple and Heritage Fair held during Applefest

Other highlights included the Dragon Paddlers, Carrick River Rescue, Clonmel Repair Café, LAWCO and the Recycling Ambassadors, as well as the dramatic-looking Pig on a Spit, which was consumed by many.

One particular feature of which the festival is particularly proud of is the range of projects produced and designed by the artistic team, which included the Winnie the Pooh Corner led by Louise Garcia, the Bio-Diversity Mandala by artist Lyn Mather and the Musical Soiree at the Town Hall, which stood out for their originality and breadth of vision. 

The Musical Soiree - hosted by “Dan Hearn” and special guest “Lady Blessington” - combined local history, talent and resources. 

With a standing ovation for the performers and very enthusiastic feedback from those who were wined and dined with the best of local produce in the sumptuous surroundings of Clonmel Town Hall’s Council Chamber, the organising committee hope they have set the tone for other such similar future collaborations in historic buildings. 

The festival finished with a lovely reflective evening at Bakers Bar on Sunday night where the “Symphony of the Soil” screening took place.

Longways Cider was flowing abundantly amongst the group of spectators, which included many well-wishers who gathered for the finale of this inaugural festival. 

Above - Sisters Martha Kerton and Jacinta Hewitt at the Apple and Heritage Fair

The committee are also particularly grateful to all the patrons, sponsors and partners who, from early on, contributed financially and in kind to making the project possible. 

Standing out among them are the Rotary Club, the Arts Centre and Clonmel Show, who were key contributors who helped kick start the festival and gave it the confidence to persevere. 

Funding agencies such as Creative Ireland, Tipperary Leader, Clonmel Town Forum and Tipperary County Council also contributed generously to making the festival possible. 

Festival Organiser Theresia Guschlbauer particularly singles out her very enthustiastic and dedicated steering committee for all the help and support throughout the development process, as well as Suircan Community Forum as the sponsoring organisation, and the South Tipperary Beekeepers Association for their interest in working together. 

Above - Killian Wierczynski tested the art work at Clonmel Applefest

She also acknowledges the significant contribution of volunteers, without whom the event would not have been possible; the wonderful team of artists involved and the small but very efficient production, design and marketing team who brought their professional expertise to make this first edition a memorable event. 

Plans for next year’s edition are already in train, but not before a thorough stock-taking and evaluation meeting takes place.  

The Adopt an Orchard Tree scheme is also ongoing and more can be heard about its progress via the festival Facebook page and/or the website Clonmel Applefest.ie