The Carlow Arts Festival makes its return in June, and we are proud to be supporting it this year. The festival takes place on the grounds of Carlow College from the 7th to the 11th of June and will be full to the brim of engaging events by performers from Ireland and abroad. There’s something for all ages to enjoy and is a welcome space for children and young people to experience the wonder of the arts while inspiring them to explore their own creativity.
The Programme
There are many types of events on during the festival including visual arts, dance, literature, music and more. The opening act is ‘Wires, Strings and Other Things’ where 3 musicians improvise and invent music together with the audience’s help. On Thursday, there are exhibitions, a private confessional, the opening party, and an exciting project called ‘ASSEMBLY’ that brings communities and artists together. Some of these activities are repeated on Friday in case you miss them, and concludes with ‘MOS’, a a physical soundtrack using everyday tools, and music by Æ Mak.
The weekend will see the continuation of some of the events mentioned previously but there’s lots more to see and do. There’ll be yoga, workshops, comedy, traditional music, DJ sets, O’Hara’s Live and Local, and more. The full programme is available here.
What is O’Hara’s Live and Local?
This is an exciting part of the festival, of which we are sponsoring. It’s a platform for the most exciting music from artists across Carlow such as Trizzalini, Shakalak, Jaek, Tadhg, and many more. At Blacknight, we strive to promote local talent and we know they’ll do great! This part of the festival is for anyone aged over eighteen, and tickets are €12 for the day, or €25 as it includes access to the O’Hara’s Main Stage. Pop down to the stage and show your support for the talent that Carlow musicians have to offer.
Around the Town
During the festival, make sure to go around Carlow and see what’s going on. Across the road from Carlow College is Mimosa Bar de Tapas where you’ll get authentic tapas served in a beautiful setting. The infamous Tully’s Bar has a great selection of craft beer and spirits in town, regular live music nights and a lovely beer garden. Head to the DOME Family Entertainment Centre (just down the road from Blacknight HQ) for some bowling, the children’s play centre, laser tag, and games arcade. Get to know Carlow’s history at the Carlow County Museum. Finally, pop into the Made in Carlow art gallery to marvel at the paintings, fine art, prints, ceramics, woodwork and handcrafted jewellery. There’s so much more to see and do in Carlow town while you’re enjoying the festival.
Tickets
Many of the events are free, but you can book tickets for any of the ticketed events on the Carlow Arts Festival website. There are discounts for groups and reduced-price tickets for customers who are senior citizens, unwaged, or full-time students. Looking forward to June!
About the Author: Aoife Wright
