Latest news with #Fleadh
Irish Independent
16 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Irish Rail to put on additional services to Wexford during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
The announcement which is due this week comes amid criticism from South East on Track that no extra services have yet been announced. South East on Track who advocate and campaign for better rail services in the region said: 'Last year, 50 additional services were put in place to bring people to and from Wexford for the week. There were similar additional services put in place for previous Fleadhs in Mullingar and Drogheda. 'Even this far out, many of the Wexford-Dublin services are beginning to book out for the Fleadh week. It's clear that the demand is there for far more services than five per weekday, and three at the weekends.' With estimates that the Fleadh could bring almost 700,000 people to Wexford, the group is calling on Irish Rail to provide more services in an 'environmentally friendly manner'. When contacted Irish Rail's Head of Corporate Communications Barry Kenny said: 'We are working to arrange additional services for the Fleadh, as we did last year, and hope to be in a position to confirm service arrangements as early as possible this week. We had a very successful range of additional services last year and look forward to doing so again this year. 'Throughout the summer, we have sporting events, concerts and festivals week in week out, and provide additional services for these wherever possible.'
Irish Independent
18 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Wexford's €1.2 million watersports centre will be first of its kind in Ireland
Last week, outgoing Fáilte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly was back in his home county to launch the Wexford Destination and Experience Development Plan ahead of this year's Fleadh August is set to be significant month for tourism for Wexford. Over the course of last year's eight day Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an estimated 650,000 people travelled to Wexford for the biggest ever festival which generated in the region €60 million for the local economy. When the Fleadh returns this year between August 3 and August 10, it is expected to be even bigger and in addition, a world – class water sports adventure centre will open at Curracloe, one of Ireland's best beaches following a €1.2 million collaboration between Fáilte Ireland and Wexford County Council.
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
President Higgins to perform one of his last civic duties at the official opening of Wexford's Fleadh Cheoil 2025
The festivities will kick off at 1 p.m. on the Gig Rig on the Quay with a performance by a local youth orchestra before President Higgins takes to the stage at 3 p.m. for the official opening ceremony. Afterwards, from 4 p.m. there will be a 'star-studded array of traditional acts' playing late into the night as proceedings begin in earnest. Confirming the president's appearance, chief executive of Wexford County Council (WCC) Eddie Taaffe said there were also tentative plans to have a fireworks display on the closing night of the Fleadh a week later. 'That will be a jam-packed evening on the Gig Rig, headlined by the All-Ireland winning ceilí band, we're also hoping to have a fireworks display on the night as well, to mark the end of what will hopefully be two successful Fleadhs in Wexford,' he said. That closing ceremony will also see the Fleadh baton passed to a delegation from Belfast as it prepares to emulate Wexford's successful staging of two consecutive events. With the event now just weeks away, Mr Taaffe said there will be a 'certain amount of disruption' in Wexford town in the coming days as crews prepare for the arrival of an estimated 700,000 people to the county. , Traffic management plans, including the bus schedules, are on the Fleadh Cheoil website.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Tidy Towns group ‘devastated' as good work undone by vandals in Wexford laneways – ‘I don't understand why they'd do this'
Along with local artists and businesses such as Westgate Design, Wexford Tidy Towns have been working hard in recent years and months to transform places like Fettitt's Lane and Roman Lane from no-go areas into warm and welcoming spaces. In recent weeks, a whole host of new artwork had been added to the laneways and it felt like a corner had really been turned. It was why it made it an all the more devastating blow when Phil found out that vandals had destroyed whole sections of both laneways in graffiti overnight. "It's clearly the same person who has done it in both laneways,' she said. 'I'd say it was last (Sunday) night. Usually we'd find out about these things pretty quickly and we'd be down there cleaning them up all the time anyway.' Given the good work of recent weeks and the fact that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is rapidly approaching, Phil was quite emotional at seeing their efforts undone by a couple of careless individuals. "I got quite emotional this morning about it,' she said. 'I just can't understand why someone would want to destroy the work we've done there. They painted over a picture of a butterfly on the wall that was done by a local child. They'll be devastated. They should be made clean it all off with a toothbrush.' CCTV footage is currently being examined to catch the culprits, but Phil is all too aware that it would be difficult to penalise those involved unless they were caught in the act. "We won't give up and we'll get things back right in time for the Fleadh,' she said. 'Luckily things like the mosaic etc weren't damaged. It's not the end of the world or anything, but it's just so frustrating. We had so many positive comments lately from people about the laneways and how they finally feel safe in them again.'
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Forest Fest review: Peter Hook and Teenage Fanclub among highlights of Day 2
Forest Fest, Emo, Co Laois, Saturday July 26 ★★★★☆ If you, like me, are one of those sad sacks who bore all and sundry by moaning about the 'good old days' of festivals then Forest Fest in Emo, Co Laois will finally shut you up. Now in its third year, this boutique gathering sports a well looked after car park and campsite for a start. Once inside, the Village and Perfect Day stages are to your right, or head straight for the Fleadh (and some nice craft beer action) or the main stage. The site's compactness saves on shoe leather but means there's some sound spillage between stages, albeit nothing that'll spoil anyone's day. A great kick-off from Limerick's Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets, whose early Springsteen, saxophone-driven rocking eventually drew an enthusiastic crowd after a brief delay with the gates. These Charming Men's Smiths tribute was as superb as always. Therapy dotted their set with Philo-isms ('We need your helping hands') and they (and Kilkenny's Kerbdog) were like a shovel to the head but in a good way. Peter Hook & The Light provided an enjoyable time-trip, despite the fact that Hooky and his guitar player couldn't make up half a singer between them. I haven't seen two bass players on stage since the glory days of Spinal Tap but versions of Blue Monday and Love Will Tear Us Apart are always welcome. Teenage Fanclub at Forest Fest. A brief stop for a bit of head-banging to the concertina of Buille before joining a packed tent for the Classic Beatles. 'John's' wig disproved all of Isaac Newton's apple-related theories but that didn't stop a great show, almost drowned out by the communal singing. Later, we were treated to a spirited set from Manic Street Preachers. "Do you remember the 90s?' James Dean Bradfield asked. It's a safe bet most of this audience does. Huge cheer for Design For Life, as there always should be, and the rest of a career-spanning selection from the Welsh Clash, especially a particularly good You Love Us, which we undoubedly do, was equally useful. 'You're the people we're here for!' Right on. The sound wasn't great at the back, and the bar and the bathroom were a fair hike from the front of the main stage, and more toilets are always welcome. But these are minor quibbles at a festival where the staff were fantastic and there was a fine variety of food and drink. My night ended with Teenage Fanclub because there will always be something irresistibly attractive about the combination of overdriven guitars and harmonies. Everything they played was teleported in from some glorious jangly dimension, but the selections from 1991's Bandwagonesque, especially The Concept's heavenly coda, were a blessing. A near-perfect ending to a great day out. Where can I get a ticket for next year? Read More Mary Coughlan review: Ride On among the highlights of triumphant homecoming show in Galway
