Kilkenny Arts Festival kicks off this evening with ten days of top class music, art and entertainment for the public to enjoy.
Brendan Howlin, Minister for public expenditure and reform will be in Kilkenny this evening in the Pembroke Hotel to officially launch the event at 5pm.
This year’s festival has a lot to offer, not just the arts lover, but the average person who enjoys a good band, a funny play or a classical concert. There is no end to the variety of events on offer at this year’s festival and some of the highlights are as follows.
Luka Bloom makes a welcome return to the city this year and his gig at the Set Theatre features well known musicians Mairtin O’Connor, Caoimhin O ‘Raghallaigh, Steve Cooney and Conor Byrne. He is no stranger to the city and there will hardly be an empty seat in the house if his previous gigs are anything to go by.
Fans of Luka’s may also be interested in Gemma Hayes the Tipperary-born girl with the stunning voice. Her voice will never sound as good as it will in St John’s Priory on John Street - this is simply the perfect venue for her dulcet tones and her support act singer/songwriter Ann Scott will also benefit from the beautiful Prior acoustics.
Morgan Kelly is delivering the Hubert Butler lecture this year and this event is being greatly anticipated by man. Not known for his participation in interviews and grillings, Kelly will be introduced by Olivia O’ Leary and his lecture will be n What Happened to Ireland? His famous article on the bursting of the property bubble prior to its occurrence has been much discussed but the Professor of Economics at UCD still believes there is a way out for Ireland. This is destined to be an interesting event.
James Vincent McMorrow is playing in the unusual surroundings of St Canice’s Cathedral and the acoustics there will contribute to a unique performance from bearded Dubliner. His soulful tunes have melted the hearts of many and his haunting melodies will have an audience in the palm of his hand.
Theatrically, this year’s arts festival has another quirky calendar of events on offer.
Corcadorca present Request Programme which takes place in a real apartment where a small audience await the arrival of the lone character. The audience will get to experience her everyday routines in this unusual intimate piece of theatre.
Una McKevitt is back with The Big Deal. She was in Kilkenny with Victor and Gord last year and this piece of ‘non-theatre’ was greatly acclaimed. This year her actors tell the story of two women who knew from their childhood that they should have been born men, and it presents the journey they took in order to right that wrong.
There is a wonderful Children’s programme this year with a host of activities on offer for the younger arts festival goer. Star Boy presented by Joe Brennan is for the youngest viewer - ages two and a half years and upwards. It is the tale of a small boy who loves to explore and as he sleeps one night he sees a shooting star and decides to investigate.
The Amazing Few are masters of frenzy and general mayhem for the over 6s. Their Watch the Day Glow shows are both interactive and fun for a young audience featuring balloons and bubbles.
Holy Mary tells the story of eight-year old Mary who is preparing to make her first Holy Communion, however, her big day is destined to be a disaster thanks to Majella Barnes who is determined to ruin it for her. This performance at the Watergate is perfect for the pre-holy communion child who might empathise with Mary’s plight.
The visual arts are well represented at Kilkenny Arts festival which has become somewhat renowned for the quality of the art and crafts on offer during the 10-day event. Working in textiles, glass, copper, paper, fibres and recycled materials, sculpture, acrylics, and other media, the artists on display at this year’s festival will give food for thought. There are also several local artists exhibiting around the county in the pubs, restaurants, and other unusual venues scattered across the city and county. Multimedia is also well represented as it sculpture and other diverse forms of art.
Kilkenny Arts Festival has a lot to offer over the next 10 days - check out the programme on www.kilkennyarts.ie or call into the booking office on High Street to find something to suit your palette.
