Longford’s multidisciplinary arts festival is celebrating its third year this July, with an expanded and ambitious programme in the works.
Taking place from July 28 – 31, Cruthú aims to celebrate the wealth of artistic talent in the Midlands region. This year’s programme is more wide-ranging and inclusive than ever. Events will span the visual arts, music, film, comedy, theatre, spoken word poetry, street art, crafts, djembe drumming, shadow puppetry and more, with a balance of contemporary and family-friendly events.
“We are proud to be staging such a rich and diverse programme... We’re especially excited to be bringing famous names such as Jerry Fish, Mick Flannery, Mark Grist, and Aindrias de Staic to Longford," said Cruthú chairman Patrick Conboy.
The headlining act of Cruthú 2016 will be a performance from genre-bending Irish musician Jerry Fish in the Longford Arms on Saturday, July 30, with support from jazz group Paddy Dennehy and the Red Herring. On Sunday, July 31, Cork musician Mick Flannery will be holding an intimate solo gig in St John’s Church, with support from Haiku.
Quirky TV presenter, comic storyteller, and fiddle-player Aindrias de Staic will be performing his new show in Barney’s Restaurant on Thursday, July 28. The Man from Moogaga is an award-winning tale of growing up in remote small-town Ireland in the 80s.
As with last year’s festival, Cruthú plans to install pop-up exhibitions in vacant retail outlets around the town. Acclaimed street artists will be returning to the town to create murals over the weekend, and there will be a special exhibition of artworks responding to the centenary of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
This year, Cruthú are excited to delve into the world of spoken word and slam poetry performance. English poet and battle rapper Mark Grist will be hosting two workshops in Backstage Theatre, followed by a solo show where workshop attendees will be encouraged to participate. All three events will be taking place on Friday, July 29.
Leitrim-based poet Stephen Murphy will be hosting a poetry open mic night, where poets of all styles, ages, and experience will be welcome to perform. Pop-up spoken word performances will be taking place in random venues around Longford by seasoned performer Richard Brennan.
An exciting addition to this year’s programme are workshops by Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, who recruit burlesque and cabaret models to create unique and engaging life-drawing classes. The group will hold one 18 and over only and two family-friendly drawing workshops all based around the Ardagh legend The Wooing of Étain.
Pop into the Longford Tourism Office, visit www.cruthuartsfestival.com, or see Facebook and Twitter pages to book tickets.
