WEEKEND FESTIVALS:THE OMNIPRESENT sun gods, knowing the importance of the August bank-holiday weekend in Waterford city, answered the hopes, wishes and prayers of thousands on Saturday.
To the sounds of beating drums, childish laughter and drifting musical notes, it came: the intervention of Lugh, Surya, Apollo, Ra, Freyr, Tonatiuh and Sol ensured that the sun shone in Waterford.
Of course, there is no August bank-holiday weekend in the city: for more than a decade and a half, there has only been the Spraoi weekend.
Gardaí said more than 30,000 turned out on the city’s streets on Saturday, while the footfall over the weekend has been estimated at more than 100,000.
For the first time in years, the Spraoi Festival did not feature a parade over the weekend. Instead, however, Spraoi enticed Mr Menagerie and his Clockwork Creatures along the city’s streets last month for the new Spraoi in the Park festival – the first of two festivals that were planned for the city this summer.
And although the miserable rain did its worst on Friday evening, resulting in the cancellation and rapid relocation of some events, the spirits were lifted on Saturday by the more clement weather.
It was just as well, really, as the hapless and hilarious duo known as the Fanzini Brothers would otherwise have been awash with something other than cheer.
The talented brothers, who performed at Cathedral Square on Saturday afternoon, were encircled by children – and the adults standing behind them seemed to enjoy it just as much.
It did not end particularly well for Ronaldo, however, as he (almost) lost his head in a cannon with his brother Guido’s help. But that’s showbiz, and the show must go on.
Later that afternoon, on the AOL stage on John Robert’s Square, the Roaring Forties had the young and the young at heart rocking and rolling in the early-evening sunshine.
Meanwhile, just yards away on Broad Street, the revellers queued for coffees, steaks, crepes, smoothies, falafels and humus salads, as well as a variety of craft products. Children petted two rather large and gorgeous white peacocks, while young girls sat patiently as curious colourful fabrics were woven into their hair.
The Lazy Habits, who performed a stunning blend of jazz, soul and hip hop, raised the roof over the beer garden of Geoff’s Bar on John Street. At the William Vincent Wallace Plaza on the quay, meanwhile, the Deaf Animal Orchestra and O Emperor sparkled like the jewels in the crown of the Waterford music scene that they are.
Later, at the carpark at Miller’s Marsh, Johnstown, as the light finally left the early August sky, French company Transe Express messed with our heads with their Mobile Oblique Et Bancal.
Like a mobile hanging over a child’s pram, these drummers, bathed in various hues of light, never missed a beat as they were hoisted by a crane and rotated over the carpark, while a trapeze artist showed the thousands below how to hang out in style.
Over the weekend, the Spraoi Festival featured 200 free performances by street-theatre acts from seven countries, while nine Irish premiere performances took place.
“We recovered from fairly disastrous weather on Friday to having thousands on the streets on Saturday. We’re really delighted because this was one of the strongest programmes we’ve had for years,” Spraoi director TV Honan said yesterday.
“We feel that the festival has given the city and region a much-needed boost, particularly to the tourist income. In the general economic climate, I think it’s tremendous to see people of all ages and from all social backgrounds enjoying the arts.”
Mr Honan added that all 200 performances were free to the public, “to ensure access to all of society”.
Meanwhile, in Co Cork, more than 30,000 people made their way to the Independence Music Festival, the Beast of Ballyhoura challenge, and the Cork X Southwest Festival.
Headline acts at Mitchelstown’s Independence Festival included the Blizzards, Fred, Super Furry Animals, Ocean Colour Scene and Mundy.
The festival is expected to have yielded in excess of €1 million for the local economy, with 50 acts taking part in the two-day event. What started many years ago as a town festival has grown to become one of the Republic’s biggest music festivals after Oxegen and Electric Picnic.
The site, at O’Connell Park in Mitchelstown, featured two festival bars with live music and DJs, gourmet food stalls, picnic areas and dedicated “chill-out” zones. The 10-acre site was transformed to accommodate the Bavaria main stage, the 800-capacity Cyprus Avenue Arena, and the Red Bull Village.
For those looking for something more physical in nature, the Beast of Ballyhoura adventure race took place continuously over 36 hours and covered counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.
Teams of four participated in the mountain running, mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling, orienteering and clay-pigeon shooting over purpose-built Ballyhoura trails through the Galtee mountains.
It is called the Beast of Ballyhoura because, apparently, when people do these adventure races and are deprived of sleep, they start to hallucinate and often see strange beasts and monsters.
The race got under way on Saturday at Blackwater Castle in Castletownroche, Co Cork, and concluded yesterday afternoon at the same location.
West Cork was not left out of the action over the bank holiday with hundreds of music lovers flocking to Skibbereen for the “eclectic mishmash” of sounds on offer at the Cork X Southwest Festival, which is now in its third year. Headline acts included the Waterboys, John Spillane and Lisa Hannigan.
In addition to more than 20 music acts, the festival featured comedian David O’Doherty and a play called An Rón Dall.
There was also a selection of food stalls showcasing local produce.
