Milltown will come alive over four days and nights this July with Féile Lughnasadh, a feast of traditional music and culture with legendary box player Sharon Shannon confirmed as the headline act.
She will perform on the gig rig in The Square on Saturday, July 29 while the night before, Kerry trad sensation The Rising will take to the stage and on and the Sunday night it will be the turn of internationally renowned Jiggy.
The top acts will be supported each night by local musicians so the festival will showcase the best of trad, locally, nationally and internationally and all performances are free and open air.
The festival theme is the ancient Lughnasadh celebration, a traditional Celtic event to mark the beginning of the harvest, showing gratitude to the gods for the early fruits and invoking help for a good crop in the coming weeks with grain and roots.
The god Lugh and goddess Tailtiu are the providers and guardians in Celtic lore and a parade will see local children recreate these ancient celebrations.
The festival programme will begin with the parade on Thursday, July 28 followed by drumming with Urs Wenk and Celtic lore from the Dingle Druid.
This will be followed by the perennial favourite, Club Amhráníochta Lughnasadh, the singing club, taking place in Milltown Community Hall. Singers are invited to come and take part in the open-mic event.
Sunday will be a full day of activities for all the family, with a craft fair presenting the best in local artisan foods, along with children’s activities. The ever-popular Uí Briain will play for the open air céili from 4.00pm to 7.00pm, with sets on the dancing platform.
Each night will feature open music sessions until late in the community hall and musicians will be welcome in the Milltown bars all weekend.
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