Tullamore Arts Festival to replace annual Phoenix event
After ten years as part of the festival fabric of Tullamore, the Phoenix Festival will this year not rise from the ashes. The festival, which took place annually from 2001 to 2010, was cancelled at the last minute last year when issues regarding the use of Lloyd Town Park could not be resolved by the festival's organising committee and Tullamore Town Council in time for the May bank holiday festival weekend. However, speaking to the Offaly Independent this week festival organiser Loughlin Hooper revealed details of a brand new festival for Tullamore - Tullamore Arts Festival - that will take the place of the Phoenix Festival into the future. The Tullamore Arts Festival will incorporate family, visual arts and performance aspects and will take place on May 5 and 6 throughout Tullamore town. Described as "a colourful family weekend", organisers say the event will celebrate the best of the Offaly and Midlands community with a programme including street performance, theatre, dance, pop up galleries, exhibitions and street markets. Local groups already confirmed for the festival include Tullamore Gospel Choir, St Colmcille's Pipe Band, Offaly Youth Theatre Project, Jasango, Tullamore Amateur Dramatics, Stage Craft Ireland and Tullamore Town Band. Further applications are also being welcomed by organisers at the festival's website www.tullamoreartsfestival.com. A local market will be held during the festival on Distillery Lane, showcasing up to 20 stalls of local food and craft. Produce must fulfil local criteria, but applications for a two day trading permit are also currently being welcomed by festival organisers at 087 7531817. Children's activities at the two day festival will include facepainting, treasure hunts, pavement art, bouncy castles and circus workshops, while dance workshops with Legitimate Bodies are also scheduled. On May 6 a live acoustic music stage will host up and coming singer songwriters and choirs, while on the same day street performers will compete for the accolade of Tullamore Arts Festival Street Performer 2012, which has a prize fund of €600. Meanwhile "recesstival" art will bring fresh and colourful creations to vacant commercial premises around the town that will act as pop up festival galleries. Local artists, photographers and craft workers are welcome to submit works for display in pop up galleries, with more information available from Rhona Dillon on 086 3401057 or at arts@tullamoreartsfestival.com. The main sponsors of the upcoming festival are the Bridge Centre in Tullamore, Failte Ireland, the Bridge House Hotel and DOTSER.