Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival
Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival
Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th July 2012
The organising committee for this year’s Buncrana Music, Arts and Culture Festival have this week launched the full programme of events. The festival, which had been in jeopardy, was only saved in March when a new committee was formed.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 26 with a big country music night with live music on the Main Street with music by Gerry Guthrie from 8.30pm followed by Patrick Feeney and his band, who this week received a standing ovation from his audience at the Highland Radio concert.
There is also a car treasure hunt starting from the Lake of Shadows Hotel at 6pm.
The North Pole Cycling Club are also holding a 30km road race leaving from the fire station at 7pm.
Friday sees the activities continue with a Dog Show on the shore greens commencing at 3pm. There will be live music each day from 2.30pm from Friday to Sunday outside The Coffee Cup; everyone is welcome to bring their own instruments.
On Friday night at 8.30 the Main Street comes alive with the ever popular Kopykat Killers followed at 10pm by Shadowplay who played at last year’s festival. At 11pm the Plaza plays host to local favourite Martin Cuffe and up and coming star Johnny Brady, while there is a festival disco in club Libertys.
Saturday 28th July has a jammed packed programme of events starting with a carnival parade on the Main Street from 12.30pm. This event is being organised by Donegal Youth Service and continues from 1pm to 6pm at the shore greens with a host of activities including a Teddy Bears picnic and a range of fun events for the kids. From 1pm there will also be a mini-music festival and craft fair at Swan Park. The festival also coincides with The Feel Good Fortnight organised by Buncrana Community Combatting Suicide.
Defending Aileach-eireanns edge visit Buncrana with their fabulous display of Ireland’s only replica of an ancient Irish chariot, as well as an Irish medieval combat display and sword making. These range of events promises to be a great day for everyone.
Saturday evening sees live music on Buncrana’s Main Street at 8.30pm with highly popular local band Overplay. At 10pm the Main Street will see Rattle n Hum play to the crowds, described as the finest U2 tribute band on the planet by Hotpress magazine. The Knights of Leon, another extremely popular act play in the plaza from midnight, with a festival disco in club Libertys.
In a slight change to previous years the Sunday will see a host of events on the main street from 5.30pm. There will be free face painting, bouncy castles and disney characters for the children square. The highlight of the festival will see the 8-piece Garth Brooks experience perform on stage at 10pm.
Buncrana Camera Club will host a photographic exhibition from 12 midday in the former Ruanna Shop.
All bars and clubs will have extended opening throughout the festival. Cullens Amusements will have their Funfair on the Shore greens throughout the festival. This is recognised as the premier fairground in Ireland.
The organising would also like anyone willing to help steward the festival to please contact Nicholas on 086 8435031 or Pat on 086 8179209 urgently.
Finally, the committee are extremely grateful to all our main sponsors who made this year’s festival viable.
