‘A festival for everyone’

Nenagh Castlefest makes a welcome return this month with a bristling bill of entertainment to be enjoyed by all. A celebration of Nenagh community spirit, Castlefest features a combination of live music and stalls selling locally-produced art, crafts and food, all beneath the town's iconic medieval castle. It is a free, daytime festival for families with a big emphasis on children's entertainment, and this year's event will feature a new fun fair of rides, face painting and more over the weekend.

MUSIC LINEUP

Castlefest 2022 - the fourth staging of the annual event - is set to the biggest yet with three stages of live music on the Saturday (June 25) including a marquee with a dance floor. The festival will be opened by Nenagh Brass Band and the music will continue with a series of Ormond Comhaltas trad sessions, and the swinging sounds of Ebony and Nenagh MINT Jazz. Country music fans will relish a performance from Offaly star of the scene Olivia Douglas, and that of headline act Louise Morrissey of Bansha, backed by an all-star band of top session musicians assembled by Peter Maher, Middlewalk Recording Studio, Cloughjordan. Sunday's action will centre on the main stage and will commence with local rising and brightly-shining star Aishling Rafferty, TG 4's Glór Tíre winner from Knockshegowna. Then it's showband time with The Conquerors of Galway, one of Ireland's longest running bands, followed by brother and sister act Keith and Lorraine McDonald of the Showband Show, also from Galway and no strangers to the stage in Nenagh. Bringing the curtain down on Castlefest ‘22 will be Athlone folk and country luminary Brendan Shine - ‘Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down?’

FREE FOR ALL

After the disappointment of having to cancel Castlefest three times due to the pandemic, Cllr Hughie McGrath and the festival committee are looking forward to finally staging the event again. Cllr McGrath stressed that this is an all-inclusive festival with no admission charge and lots of entertainment for children, one that will make a great family day out in Nenagh. “It's a free, community event and we've focussed on having a lot of crafts and stalls, and a fun fair for young children,” he said. “I'm trying to make it a festival for everyone, for families, from the children to the grannies and granddads. “I'm hoping that locals will support it and people will come into town and do a bit of shopping,” Cllr McGrath added. “The castle is so close to the centre of the town, it makes it very easy to walk up and down to the main streets.” While it is a free event, the organising committee will have donation buckets onsite over the weekend and would appreciate any contribution that people can make. Taking the opportunity to thank everyone for putting in the hard work behind making this festival happen, Cllr McGrath hoped this year's Castlefest would be something that could be built on over years to come. “I do appreciate the support we get from Nenagh Municipal District and my colleagues - it wouldn't happen without them,” the local councillor said. “I wouldn't be able to do any of this without the support of the committee around me. “Nenagh Chamber of Commerce have been very good to us this year, and they've got in behind us and we really appreciate that.”

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

Previously held in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Castlefest attracted around 2,500 people over one weekend before. Cllr McGrath said volunteers would be welcome to help with stewarding the festival; he asked interested parties to email or text him in advance of the event so that help may be co-ordinated. He also wanted to thank Supt Andrew Lacey and Sgt Declan O'Carroll of Nenagh Garda Station for their support with organising the festival. Cllr McGrath added that there has been a lot of interest from local vendors over taking stands to sell their goods at Castlefest. He said there are still some spaces available. Interested parties are welcome to contact Cllr McGrath at 087 2559323 or hughie.mcgrath@tipperarycoco.ie. The festival will run from 1.30pm to 6pm on both days. See the Nenagh Castlefest 2022 Facebook page for updates.