Cavan Arts Festival returns for four days of magic, mischief, and mayhem in Cavan Town from 16th – 19th May 2024.
In its seventh year, the independent Festival brings you the very best in music, visual art, street performance, circus, dance, theatre, film, and comedy from near and far, with lots of family fun and delicious food thrown in for good measure.
One of the musical highlights of this year’s Festival sees the mighty Soda Blonde, one of “the most critically lauded Irish acts of their generation”, bring their enigmatic and ethereal alt-pop to Townhall Arts Centre Cavan on Saturday, May 18.
Support on the night comes from Soft Launch, the best “not really a band” band you’ve ever heard, featuring Cavan’s very own Josh McClorey (The Strypes).
One of Ireland’s best comedians and, as it turns out, ballroom dancers, Kevin McGahern, brings his riotously funny new show ‘Shy Talker’ to The Townhall Arts Centre on Friday, May 17, with support from one of the scene’s hottest rising stars Killian Sundermann. With Irish Sign Language Interpretation on stage, this is truly comedy for all.
A real treat is in store for trad and world music fans on Saturday, May 18, in the Big Top, Con Smith Park, when Kurdish-Syrian bouzouki player and singer Mohammad Syfkhan brings his enchanting brand of folk to town.
Fresh from winning the hearts of the nation on The Tommy Tiernan Show, Seán Ronayne of Birdsong Ireland airs his documentary ‘Birdsong’ followed by a Q&A on his mission to record every bird species in Ireland with Director Kathleen Harris in the Big Top on Sunday, May 19.
‘Love Me Do’ by James O’Donnell is a journey of romance, drama, comedy, and heartbreak through the streets of Cavan. Providing more entertainment than you can shake a stick at, Darragh McLoughlin presents the contemporary circus show Stickman at The Townhall Arts Centre on Thursday, May 16. Featuring a man, a stick, and a television, it’s ingenious, thought-provoking, and hilarious.
Book yourself a ticket to ride with the fabulous all-ages Pedal Parade through Cavan Town on Sunday, May 19, unleash your inner Picasso with Paintclub, step into the ethereal realm with The Picture Palace: Part 2, and try to push down your, eh…laughter with Professor Plunger.
Explore the strange monotony of home life with the playfully colourful kitsch of Enda Burke’s ‘Far Away and Close to Home’, or hear the fascinating and inspiring stories of three acclaimed artists’ lives and work in our Neurodiversity in the Arts panel discussion. This Panel Discussion is also ISL interpreted.
The beating heart of Cavan Arts Festival – Parklife – will be back nestled in the life-giving lungs of Cavan Town, Con Smith Park, on both Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, from 10.30am onwards with a veritable Smörgåsbord of cultural delights, including Gonzo Ukelele Orchestra, Cavan Big Band, Virginia Gospel Choir, Baby Rave, Sanita Circus, the New Music Stage, Little Folk music, What’s Watt by Symmetry Circus, Mandala Making Workshops, ‘Land Art’ installation, topped off with a Forest Feast offering the best of cuisine to feed your belly while we stuff your mind with goodness.
Bringing the Festival to a close, and the roof down on top of it are Marcus Magee and the Hollaw Men, who will launch their eagerly awaited debut album, ‘Rising from the Hollaw’ live at the Big Top on Sunday evening.
Cavan Arts Festival is proudly supported by Creative Ireland, Cavan County Council, and the Arts Council.
For more information on Cavan Arts Festival, visit www.cavanartsfestival.ie or follow the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, or ex-Twitter.
