The launch and official opening of Boyle Arts Festival 2024 will take place on Thursday evening July 18th commencing with a parade through the town at 7.15pm. This year’s festival opening parade promises to be a vibrant celebration of creativity and community, filled with new and exciting visual delights. The official opening will be performed by Boyle native Chris O’Dowd at 8pm in the grounds of King House.
A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
The parade will feature an extraordinary collaboration that brings together various
local talents and organisations. The parade will feature innovative puppet designs by artist, Orla Clougher. They will be brought to life by the Boyle Foróige Youth Hub, the rhythmic beats guided by percussion instructor Peter Crann, the dynamic movements of Victoria Walker Dance, and the vibrant costumes from designer Carol Daly. Additionally, various sports groups will add their spirited displays to the mix, ensuring there’s something mesmerising for everyone.
A PARADE ROUTE FILLED WITH MAGIC
The procession will commence at the Crescent, making its journey down Bridge Street and Main Street, ending at King House. We eagerly anticipate the streets will be lined with community members, all gathered to witness and participate in this magical event. This parade is not just a display; it’s an invitation to be part of something truly special.
AN INVITATION TO ALL
Come and be part of the celebration of creativity and community and make this Festival the most memorable one yet! Fill the streets with colour, joy, and artistic expression! Whether you’re a participant or a spectator, this will be a magical event for everyone involved.
OFFICIAL OPENING
Following the parade, the official opening of the 2024 Boyle Arts Festival will take place in King House at 8pm.
The Festival will be opened by Hollywood star and renowned Broadway and television actor and writer, Chris O’Dowd.
Chris will also officially open this year’s Main Visual Art Exhibition, ‘Visual Presence’ which brings together leading artists from across Ireland, continuing the strong North-South flavour that has characterised it over the past 35 years. This year’s curator, Paul McKenna of the McKenna Gallery in Omagh, says “It is such an honour to curate ‘Visual Presence,’ and also hard to believe it is eight years since I first selected for the Boyle Arts Festival Main Exhibition.”
The ten day Festival programme includes an impressive mix of live music, visual arts, drama, comedy, film, interviews, parades, free events, workshops, storytelling, children’s events, readings, guided tours, free exhibitions, an art trail and much more!
Some of the big names in the live music genre include Paul Brady, Stockton’s Wing, Eddi Reader, Rebecca Storm, Regina Nathan, Brídín and James Nelson.
There is also music from the Kerry Chamber Choir, Mack Fleetwood, The Men Who knew Too Much, Sligo Concert Band, Boyle Singers with Rosie Stewart and The Dukes of Uke. We have choral and drama workshops, Chemistry Investigators, Kids Yoga & mindfulness, adult dance and writing workshops and lots more.
Our very popular Lunchtime concerts in King House and the Church of Ireland will feature pianists Yeurang Yang, Órán Halligan and Padhraig Ó’Cuinnegáin, sopranos Eimear Reynolds, Victoria Massey and Eimear Harper, flute and guitar ensemble Duo Sola, harpist Claire Roche, junior pianists Anita Han, Ryan Keogh and Peter Ryan and the musical group Ensemble 32.
There are spoken word and literary events with Dawn O’Porter, Bryan Dobson, Julian Vignoles, Martin Doyle, Ronan McGreevy, Joe Brolly, Darragh Kelly, Dr. Ken Whelan and The Moylurg Writers .
We have outrageous comedy from the Dublin Comedy Improv group, which features comedians Joe Rooney, Sharon Mannion, Danny Kehoe and Ian Coppinger, along classic drama from the Beezneez Theatre Company with ‘The Pension Plan’.
One of our most unusual and exciting events for BAF 2024 will be a screening of the extraordinary 1919 classic film 'Blind Husbands', with a live piano accompaniment by pianist Elaine Loebenstein in the beautiful King House salon, on July 22nd.
Local artists and contributors have always been a huge part of BAF and this year we will have music performances from The Sessions, Dave Byrne, The Regulars and Botanics along with and a massive pre-festival concert performance on July 17th entitled ‘Songs about Love’ featuring local young people from Music Generation Roscommon.
Come along and join in our Family Day in the pleasure grounds on Sunday 21 st . With music from Music Generation, face painting, dance performances from DAS and Fit Kids, Yoga & relaxation with Tanja, nature crafts with Tuesday and special guests, this is an unmissable event for all the family.
The Festival office at The Royal Exhibition Space on Bridge St. will be open every day from 10am to 5pm (excluding Sundays) until July 27th. Call in for programmes and tickets. For further information, please visit www.boylearts.com Tel. 089 9722477. Email [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Boyle Arts Festival is supported by The Arts Council, Local Sponsors including ProCloud, Philomedia and Nordson, Roscommon Co. Council, The Department of Rural & Community Development and the Roscommon Co. Council Creative Ireland Programme 2024.
