It's all about the arts, baby! Or at least it will be in Kilkenny, come mid-August when the Kilkenny Arts Festival kicks off. Details of this years event were announced at a reception in the sultry confines of the Dakota bar yesterday evening.
Now in its 32nd year, Kilkenny Arts Festival offers a fantastic line-up of Irish and international artists. The Festival is recognised nationally and internationally as one of Ireland's biggest and best multi-disciplinary arts festivals.
Music from the island of Madagascar; the Irish author whose work has been described as 'Die Hard with Fairies'; Sexy Sirens and Cyclops the security guard; Le Passion de Jeanne d'Arc, and some laughably brutal buskers (courtesy of Buí Bolg) will be just some of a myriad of treats combining to make this festival a unique and unmissable event.
At the launch party were former film censor Seamus Smith, Noelle Campbell - Sharpe of the Origin Gallery, broadcaster and member of the Performance Corporation, Carrie Crowley, who also happens to be the 'face' of this years's event. I think she's a great talent and wish to see her on our TV screens again. Remember when she was once RTE's rising star and even co-presented the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997?
Also there were Diego Fasciar of the Arts Council, Kevin Hough and Dave McHugh of RTE Radio 1 and publicist Kate Bowe. Speakers were John Purcell, Chairman of Kilkenny Arts Festival's Board of Directors, together with Garrett Keogh, writer/director of Dog Show, which will be appearing at the Festival. Entertainment was provided by OTC Young Associate Artist Mairead Buicke, serenading the crowds with Gershwin's Summertime.
Get yourself to Kilkenny from the 12th to the 21st of August. Or else.
