The organisers of the Waterways Ireland triAthlone have confirmed details of this year’s TriFest 2009 musical acts. The three day event, built around the triathlon race on July 18, promises to be the Midlands’ biggest summer festival.
One of Irelands best loved singer songwriters Mundy, will play TriFest on Saturday July 18. Supported by Failte Ireland, TriFest will take place over three nights with Westmeath band The Blizzards playing on Friday July 17 and The Young Wolfe Tones closing the weekend off on Sunday July 19. Tickets go on sale today Friday July 3 from www.trifest.ie and Music World, Athlone. Combo tickets for Friday and Saturday night are available at €40 plus booking fee while tickets for The Blizzards or Mundy are priced at €25 each with Sunday night tickets costing €10.
The Blizzards will be supported by Twisted Logic and Gorilla Radio while Mundy will be supported by Hogan. Organisers have planned a family day for Sunday July 19 which includes entertainment from dancers and a local ceil band, not forgetting The Young Wolfe Tones.
The TriFest 2009 summer festival which will offer fantastic live music has been developed to complement Ireland’s biggest and most successful triathlon. TriFest 2009 launches in advance of next year’s 2010 triAthlone European Championships, which will attract thousands of festival goers and sport enthusiasts to the Midlands.
“This is the biggest year yet for TriAthlon with over 2,500 competitors taking part and with the introduction of TriFest. We are thrilled by the year on year success of the event and the introduction of TriFest the music festival to this year’s event. The combination of sport, music, and entertainment means we have something on offer for everyone.
“We hope to keep growing at the rate we have been over the past three years as we move towards hosting the European Championships next in 2010,” said Liam Heavin, chairman of Waterways Ireland triAthlone.
Established in 2006, Waterways Ireland triAthlone has fast gained a name as one of Europe’s leading triathlon competitions. In 2010 Waterways Ireland triAthlone will host the European Triathlon Championships, which will attract competitors from all over the continent. It is the first time that Ireland will host such an event and it will provide unprecedented tourism opportunities for the Midlands region. The 2009 event has a record number of entrants confirmed for this year’s event with over 2,500 competitors, the biggest Triathlon ever held in Ireland and one of the top 10 triathlons in Europe. The race is endorsed by the Irish sport national governing body, Triathlon Ireland.
Four major charities who will benefit from this year’s event include; Respect, Children's Hospital Crumlin, Camara and Croi. Well known travel presenter Kathryn Thomas will also be participating and fundraising for her charity – Respect.
Ireland's first ever Olympic triathlete Emma Davis will return to Athlone in 2009, following her second place finish there last year to fellow Olympian, Czech Olga Zemenova. Fellow Irish triathletes Aileen Morrison and Gavin Nobel who both finished in the top 25 in the recent World Championship Series will also be taking part in the competition.
