Féile success paves way for more
Image 1 of 5
The marquee at Ballyhane as the first of the first of the audience were arriving for one of the shows.Image 2 of 5
Bridget Healy, Nicky Healy from Ballina and Geraldine Duffy, Nenagh, and Erin Foley from Birdhill at Féile Forever.Image 3 of 5
John Delaney, Susan Delaney, Katie Duggan, Matt Duggan, Ann Fitzgerald, and Ger Fitzgerald, all from Birdhill, enjoying the Féile Forever.Image 4 of 5
Promoter and entertainer Paul Boland performing at Féile Forever at Ballyhane.Image 5 of 5
Tom Creagh, Tipperary, posed for the camera while enjoying the Féile.The success of Féile Forever has heightened expectations that the venue of the pilot concert may be on the way to becoming the next major entertainment centre in the Mid-West region.
Nearly 800 people attended the first ever Féile Forever Concert over four consecutive nights at Ballyhane, a short distance from the village of Birdhill, enjoying some of the top performing groups in the country.
The outdoor pop-up event, under cover, beside the former licensed premises, the Ballyhane Inn on the old N7, attracted patrons across a wide range of ages from the young to the not so young to enjoy a feast of entertainment.
The arrangements were superb, with the attendance in pods of two, four or six, all pre-booked, receiving warm commended for its smooth, well run operation, throughout. A team of up to 100 people were involved in setting up and running of the event.
Promoted by CWB, founded in 2006 by Birdhill native, Paul Boland and Joe Clarke, who has strong family connections with Nenagh, the Thursday-Sunday programme was run with substantial support from the Department of Arts, Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltachts Live Industry support scheme as a pilot entertainment event under Covid-19 restrictions with attendance limited to 200 each night.
Following the success of the event, Paul Clarke has confirmed: “It is hoped to run more outdoor shows here and establish a new venue for events in Birdhill at Ballyhane in the not too distant future.”
The programme ran from 6.30pm each evening, with onsite bar and food truck facilities and off road parking for all vehicles with a traffic management plan in place to minimise disruption for through traffic, while facilitating those attending the event.
On the opening night, the headline performer was Bell X1’s Paul Noonan who was joined by Limerick folk singer Emma Langford winner of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk awards and now part of the Irish Women in Harmony Line up.
On Friday night, the Jerry Fish show on stage invited Tipperary singer-songwriter Norma Manly “a 21st century Patsy Cline” and “blues as they should be heard” to join him.
Billed as Ireland's greatest ever pop band The Frank & Walters took centre stage on Saturday night and was joined by Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets who have been building audiences, stream, views and a buzz since 2019.
On the final night of the weekend, the gathering enjoyed two of the greatest live acts to come out of the mid-west who had come together for the very first time as The Alvin Purple Experience & The Funk Junkies.
Well-known 2FM DJ, Will Leahy, Limerick was host on two of the nights and more local entertainment also included performance by promoter, Paul Boland.
The event got a great reception in the area with many local people enjoying a night out after the long lockdown under Covid-19 and it now seems an odds on bet that the venue is set for more of the same to come.