Comeraghs Wild Festival: What's on this weekend

Never in the nine year history of the Comeraghs Wild Festival have events sold out so fast, the organisers have said as the  four-day festival of fun for all the family began on Thursday, July 6. 

Festival highlights include a concert at Crotty’s Lake near Rathgormack on Friday night, sheep shearing and dog handling demonstration at Cooney’s Yard at Crough on Saturday afternoon, a ‘Sunrise at the Steeple’ dawn hike leaving Ballymacarbry at 3.30am on Saturday and the staging of the play When Harry Met Sally, play at Clodaigh House in Portlaw at 8pm on Friday.

Other events in Carrick’s hinterland are an evening of set dancing with a barbecue called Dancing 'neath the Comeraghs at Rathgormack Hiking Centre at 7.30pm on Saturday and a cookery demonstration by Aisling Larkin at Nell's House, Rathgormack at 2pm on Sunday. 

There will also be a Coumshingaun Loop Walk at Kilcloney Woods near Rathgormack at 9.30am on Sunday, July 9.

Festival Director, Bernadette Drohan, said it’s shaping up to be a fantastic few days. 

“I can’t thank our committee enough. This festival is run by a fantastic group of volunteers who put Trojan effort into this event every single year. 

“We have 28 events this year, lots of them now completely booked out.

“We took a bit of a gamble this year and added lots more events and it has really, really worked. 

“We are very thankful to the many businesses, community groups, sites, service providers and venues across this region who have worked with us to put on such a varied programme of events.

“The Crotty’s Lake concert is sold out but we have a cancellation list and would encourage people to get in touch with us directly to get on that list.

 “Lots of our children’s events are sold out, as are the Curraghmore tours, Eamo & Ro and our closing concert with Gina & the Champions in Dungarvan.”

Festival Chairperson, Mary Flynn, said they started the Festival in 2013 to showcase the beauty, tranquility, history and traditions of the Comeraghs, Nire Valley and Copper Coast region. 

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think the festival would get this big and be so well supported. When we started out, there were few places to stay or eat. That is very different now.

“The Waterford Greenway and all of the tourism, hospitality and service providers in this great region have worked together to create a fantastic visitor experience in this area.

“While this Festival does attract visitors, I’d also encourage locals to support events in their own parishes, their own communities.

Comeraghs Wild Festival is supported by Waterford City and County Council.

For more details on the festival and its events, log on to: www.comeraghswild.com