Headford prepares for community arts festival
Headford will be abuzz with culture this October as it plays host to Something in The Water, the town’s third annual community arts festival.
Taking place from October 1 to October 5, the organising committee has built upon the success of the festival’s earlier achievements to create a programme full of local talent as well as guest artists.
Proceedings get underway on Wednesday October 1, with the launch of an exhibition by local artist Sarah Martyn, a photographic tour of Ross Errilly Friary by St Fursa’s Historical Society, and a performance by Headford Community Orchestra and various other ensembles.
On Thursday there will be an evening of readings and conversations with award winning local author Donal Ryan before the festival’s official launch on Friday Oct 3, an event which gives everyone a chance to sing.
Saturday and Sunday are feature exhibitions, workshops, family events, and some incredible music performances by the likes of Bel Canto, Con Tempo String Quartet, and the GUH Jazz Project.
One of the highlights on Saturday evening is the Originals Only Showcase concert, where local singer songwriters such as James Biggins, Joe Costello, Ailish Laffey, Ava Merrigan and Cathy Shannon will hit the stage in the Anglers Rest Hotel.
On Sunday evening the Anglers Rest plays host to ‘Amráin Muige Seola,’ a performance of local traditional ballads, that were collected into a volume by Mrs Eileen Costello in 1923.
In recent years these songs are being played and sung less and less, but under the musical direction of Mairead Berrill, the concert hopes to bring them to new audiences and back into circulation.
It will feature an array of talented artists such as Brid Dooley, Nicola Joyce, Fabian Joyce, Orlaith Keane, and Eoin Wynne, among others.
The organisers of the festival firmly believe that the arts should be accessible to everyone, and that cost shouldn't be a barrier to being able to engage with the arts in your community.
It's for this reason, they've kept their ticket prices low, made as many events as possible family friendly, and offered what they can for free. This was only made possible by the support of The Arts Council, Galway County Council Arts Office and Galway Rural Development.