Carlow Arts Festival will bring theatre, music, free events and, hopefully, good weather tomorrow! 

Carlow Arts Festival will bring theatre, music, free events and, hopefully, good weather tomorrow! 

Carlow Arts Festival is on over the June Bank Holiday weekend

WITH weather for the June bank holiday (fingers and toes crossed) looking warm and sunny, there has never been a better time to enjoy Carlow Arts Festival. Carlow town will be transformed into a playground of theatre, music, spectacle and free outdoor events from Thursday 28 May to Monday 1 June.

At the heart of this year’s programme is A Teen Odyssey, a piece of immersive physical theatre created with the input of Carlow teens from Spanish theatre troupe La Mecànica. It turns every audience member into an active participant in a celebration of anyone who is, or ever was, a teenager.

Our Place is a visual-auditory exhibition celebrating the ideas, talents and lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities. The accessible space features immersive sound artworks, tactile lights, sensory areas with vibroacoustic seating and Lámh, captions and audio description, offering a welcoming environment for all visitors.

A free outdoor spectacle will take place in Carlow on Saturday and Sunday and in Bagenalstown on Monday. Motionhouse’s iconic BLOCK is a gravity-defying dance circus performance using 20 oversized blocks to explore the challenges and excitement of city life.

Closing the festival on Monday 1 June is Aon Scéal, a vibrant street parade featuring the wild and weary giant Crom, brought to life by Macnas, alongside a host of folklore characters from Carlow. With drums, percussion and music, it promises a memorable finale for audiences of all ages.

The programme also includes The Comedy Gala, hosted by Sharon Mannion, with Sophia Wren, Bernard Casey and headlined by Andrew Maxwell, as well as a special performance by Camille O’Sullivan, who brings her acclaimed Loveletter tribute to Carlow on Friday.

Seven performers will play on the O’Hara’s music stage for the Carlow Arts Festival sessions and three artists will take part in an energetic SexyTadgh Presents musical showcase. It will feature performances by Data Eaton & The Patsys, Ping Pong Disco and Dublin band Ciúnas.

For full programme details and bookings, visit www.carlowartsfestival.ie and follow @carlow_arts_festival for festival updates.

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