Festival to consider rescheduling events

Waterford's annual outdoor arts festival, Spraoi, may have to readjust its schedule following the county's win against Tipperary…

Waterford's annual outdoor arts festival, Spraoi, may have to readjust its schedule following the county's win against Tipperary in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals last Sunday.

The festival is due to run from Friday, August 4th to Sunday, August 6th, culminating with the Spraoi parade. However, the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Waterford and Cork will coincide with the event.

Proposals to rearrange some events are being discussed by Waterford City Council and local gardaí.

"The traffic from the match would clash with the parade going across the bridge on Sunday," said Spraoi director TV Honan, "and I know most of our volunteers want to watch the match. It's not an inconvenience - we're celebrating too."

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The Spraoi festival is now in its 14th year. "We came up with the idea during a late-night session," said Mr Honan.

"We had music on and we were tapping pots and pans and we said, 'hang on, why don't we do this properly?' and that's what we did." Three years ago, the Spraoi Studio Arts building, better known as "the shed", was built.

About 200 acts, each of which have been assigned a local "minder" for the weekend, will perform in various outdoor locations across the city over the weekend.

Internationally renowned acts such as the Burundi Drummers and street comedians Bull Circus will mix with homegrown acts such as Toránn and aerial performers Fidget Feet.

The Junior Drummers, comprising 20 local children aged between 10 and 14, will also perform, having taken part in a month of drumming workshops.

All Spraoi festival events are free. For more information see www.spraoi.com