The Full Moon Rising festival in Limerick is all about harnessing the power of community, with all funds raised going back into local projects, according to organisers.

The music event returns for a third year on Saturday 14 September in Kilmeedy village in the west of the county. It will feature eight musical acts on two stages, catering to all musical tastes.

There will be local as well as national acts, including PopGods, Clio, Generation RADIO, North of Fortitude, HighTide, Public Demand, Marion Kelly and Jason Hennessy and DJ Davin Toomey.

The festival, organised by Kilmeedy Community Development Group, is expected to attract between 800 and 1,000 people, according to Siobhán Reidy from the group.

"Full Moon Rising is all about the power of community," Siobhán tells Irish Country Living. "It's about coming together to make changes for ourselves and for future generations."

This year, the festival introduces a new ticketing option. Attendees can choose between a €35 general admission ticket or a €50 ticket that includes four free drink tokens.

The change aims to accommodate different budgets and preferences, especially for those who drive to the event.

Kids Night

The Full Moon Rising Festival isn't just for adults. The night before the main event, on Friday 13 September, the festival hosts a special Kids Night.

This family-friendly event features a unique musical theme along with games, disco, and face painting. The Kids Night exemplifies the festival's commitment to including all generations in the community celebration.

The festival takes place on a seven-acre site that the community group purchased two and a half years ago. Siobhán describes it as a "strategic site" right in the middle of the village.

"Even though we didn't really have the money to buy it initially, we made it happen because we had to secure it," she explains.

Future plans for the village

The site is set to become much more than just a festival venue.

The Kilmeedy Community Development Group recently completed a feasibility study and is preparing to apply for planning permission to develop various projects on the land.

These include a health and wellness zone with saunas, hot tubs, and plunge pools, a natural playground, walking trails with outdoor gym equipment, a craft and small business hub, and potentially even a swimming pond.

Funds raised from the Full Moon Rising festival will contribute to these ambitious plans. "We want to develop those projects, but obviously we need to go for planning permission. Planning permission costs a lot of money," Siobhán says.

The Kilmeedy Community Development Group, established nearly 30 years ago, has been instrumental in revitalising the small West Limerick village.

Among its achievements are the refurbishment of a heritage building into a community centre, the renovation of the old Garda barracks into office space, and the creation of an intergenerational garden.