Chasing Abbey to headline local New Year's Eve concert

 

Chasing Abbey have been confirmed as the headliners for a New Year's Eve concert in O'Connor Square - the start of a year-long programme of events to celebrate Tullamore's 400th birthday.

 At last Thursday's meeting of Tullamore Municipal District it was confirmed that €25,000 had been allocated for the New Year's Eve event at the newly revamped O'Connor Square where the Tullamore chart-toppers will be the main attraction.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent, Cllr Tony McCormack said that having a headline act of the stature of Chasing Abbey will attract revellers from across the Midlands and further afield to Tullamore to ring in the New Year.

 “It's fantastic news for the town and all the businesses in the town that traditionally do well on New Year's Eve. Chasing Abbey are one of the top young bands in the country at the moment and have appeared at many festivals across the country this year. They are very, very popular.

“We intend to have it from 10.30pm to 12.30am and that people will come into earlier and have a meal in one of Tullamore's fine restaurants or go for a few drinks. We expect families to come around 10.30pm, people from restaurants to join the festivities around 11pm and people from the bars to start filling in around 11.30pm to ring in the New Year. We also have a special guest lined up to ring in the New Year.”

“We expect the whole thing will finish at 12.30. It's a festive contribution from Tullamore Municipal District to the town of Tullamore.

 “The money being used is coming from funds set aside for when we hosted Entente Florale last year. It was reimbursed from a European fund and we said that we would ring fence it for such projects as the concert.

“We want to make sure the people of Tullamore really have a fantastic event and that it brings in loads of people to the town,” Cllr McCormack said.

The concert is the first event in a year-long programme to mark the 400th anniversary of the signing of Tullamore's town charter in 1620.

 In the summer the town is going to host a week-long programme of concerts in the Big Red Barn, a purpose built temporary venue that can seat 1,000.

 “We are looking at May or June for the concerts,” said Cllr McCormack, who is a member of the organising committee.

 “We intend to have seven different events that will appeal to different age groups and tastes throughout the week and we are looking at running other smaller events throughout the year.

: “We are also asking all clubs organising events next year to take part, so you might have the Tullamore 400 Quinlan Cup Half Marathon or the Tullamore 400 Midland Midnight7s rugby tournament.”

 Cllr McCormack said that the plans are to finish the Tullamore 400 celebrations with another New Year's Eve concert in O'Connor Square.