Party atmosphere as the schedule for popular Tipperary festival is launched

The Clonmel Applefest 2024 programme was launched last Saturday under the Arches of Clonmel’s Main Guard with a lively concert by the Fresh Air Collective from Cork.

There was a party atmosphere as friends, supporters, sponsors and committee members gathered to chat, laugh and sample local apple juice, local bread and cheese and freshly baked goods with lively jazz tunes playing in the background. Sponsor Camida was well represented with three staff members coming along to wish Applefest well, while John Courtney from the Credit Union was chatting animatedly with Noel and Bernie Lonergan.

Stephen McGrath from Sun Merchant came along with his partner and baby Iarla to wish the Applefest team well. He will be playing as part of a world music double bill in tandem with guest Norwegian band, the Johanna-Adele Jüssi trio, who will be visiting Clonmel for 4 days and appear at several functions around the town.

Clonmel Applefest’s 7th edition has a theme of FOOD, exploring its connections to wellbeing, health and environmental sustainability. The festival will feature several food events which include an evening time music and Tapas soirée at the Hub café, and a breadmaking workshop by the Ballybrado company. The very popular Clonmel Story Slam hosted by Joe Whelan returns with plenty of new stories, while Sean Ronayne will give a talk about birds illustrated with his exquisite photographs and recordings at the Main Guard. The launch of the second part of the very popular Elders of Clonmel book featuring 10 Elders interviewed by 10 community writers will take place at the Borough Chambers.

The very popular traditional Harvest Fair will return to Kickham Plaza on Saturday 28th Sept with lots of family-friendly crafts activities, exhibits, demonstrations, a selection of quality food trucks and a specially commissioned ‘Juice Dance’ by Tipperary-based Instant Dissidence dance company performing throughout the day. All activities are free and on a first come, first served basis. Clonmel Applefest would like to acknowledge the continuous support of Tipperary Council and the Arts Council of Ireland; additional support by the HSE/National Lottery fund, Creative Ireland and the ETB Reach programme. Local sponsorship by Artisan Frames, Camida, Clonmel Credit Union, Scott Ryan Solicitors and Westgate Dental is also gratefully acknowledged without which the festival would not take place.