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They will be hoping that the sun shines bright down Wexford way for the South East Music Festival on Sunday week, 28 July, at the Bannow-Rathangan Showgrounds at Killag.
All is now in place for the hosting of the fourth country festival in this lovely part of south Wexford, just up the road from Kilmore Quay. Patrons will enjoy six hours of music from 1pm to 7pm.
While circumstances have led to a clash with the All-Ireland senior hurling semi final on the same day, the organisers have already booked a 25sqm big screen to relay all the action from Croke Park to patrons at the festival.
“There is a great love and passion for hurling in Wexford and while it is unfortunate that we are clashing with the big game we are certainly going to ensure that all who want to see it while attending the festival will be able to do so. We were hoping that the semi final involving Wexford would be on the Saturday evening in Croke Park, but it didn’t work out that way,” says Matt Reville, chair of the organising committee.
Michael English and his band will open the show at 1pm and they will be on stage until 3pm. The Conquerors from Galway will provide the music for Cliona Hagan who will perform for the next hour until 4pm. The Conquerors will also provide the backing for Jimmy Buckley who will perform between 4pm and 5pm. Derek Ryan and his band will conclude the festival with a rousing two hour show from 5pm to 7pm. The compere for the afternoon is Tony Kehoe from South East Radio.
With good help from the country presenters on the regional radio stations, the South East Festival has extended its target area and is now expecting good support from the neighbouring counties of Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wicklow and further afield.
“We are blessed with a tremendous community spirit in our home area,” says Matt. “We had our annual agricultural show last Thursday and it attracted a huge crowd and was a great success.
“Many of the same people will again be involved in helping out in various ways at the Country Festival on the 28 July. There will be bar and food facilities, a good dance floor and plenty of bales of straw to sit on. People who wish to bring along their fold-up chairs are most welcome to do so too. It’s all systems go now for the big country jamboree day.” Tickets are on sale at €25 from the usual outlets and can also be booked online at eventbrite.ie. Children under 16 are free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. For further details in relation to tickets, call 089-202 9871.
For updates, check out South East Country Music Festival online and on Facebook.
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