The inaugural Cruthú Arts Festival was launched this week by the cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Mark Casey, who joined organisers and exhibitors for a special photocall in Longford town’s Market Square.
The Cruthú Arts Festival was inspired by the highly successful Love Longford arts showcase; a one-off event which was held in Longford town last year as part of The Gathering. An open call seeking submissions from local artists was issued at the end of May and produced an overwhelming response. Cruthú 2014 will take place from Thursday July 31 to Sunday August 3 at various locations throughout Longford town.
“It’s great to see a festival such as this in Longford,” Cllr Casey said. “Longford’s artists are among the best this country has to offer and Cruthú will provide an opportunity for the public to see that for themselves.”
The Cathaoirleach went on to say that “events such as Cruthú are the life-blood of any town. Not only will it provide a boost for local artists and art-lovers, but it’s sure to attract tourists to the town as well.”
Also present was County Longford arts officer Fergus Kennedy, who has been working closely with the festival’s organising committee. “I feel it’s a wonderful showcase for the wealth of talent we have in the county.
“I would especially encourage those who don’t normally attend arts events to see for themselves the breadth of talent that exists in Longford.”
The chairperson of the festival committee, Patrick Conboy, explained that he hopes this year’s event will be the first of many. “It’s our intention to make Cruthú an annual festival which will provide a platform on which artists, musicians, and performers of all kinds from the region can display their work,” he revealed.
“This year we will have pop-up art exhibitions and workshops dotted throughout Longford town, and theatrical and musical events, both at Engage Longford’s exhibition space in the old Providers building on Main Street, and in an intimate, classic cabaret-style venue we are creating in the function room of John Browne’s pub on the Market Square.
For more information log on to www.cruthufestival.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cruthuarts
