Colum and Ben Sands perform at the Johnstons Festival.

IrishTV to film at Johnstons Folk Festival

The details of the upcoming Johnstons Folk Music Festival to be held in the village of Slane from July 10th to 13th have been announced. The weekend events begin in Boyle's Pub on Thursday July 10th at 9.30 pm featuring a new song contest. An invitation goes out to all budding songwriters and poets to write a song about the village and enter into the competition in Boyle's that night. The winning song will be professionally recorded and released on iTunes. Boyles Pub is the generous sponsor of the winning prize. For further information on how to enter the contest, contact Andrew on 087-2507358.

On the following night Friday 11th, a mighty session of Irish traditional music song and dance will take place in the Boyne Valley Inn Slane at 9.30pm, with the Chapel Street Band providing the music, following on from their recent success on the RTE Radio 1 Saturday night Ceili House programme, recorded in Slane Castle. The Rossin Ladies dancers will dance to the reels and jigs.

Saturday July 12th will have a full day of village street events featuring what the village has to offer to visitors in terms of arts and crafts, tourism and local food produce. IrishTV will film around the village to be shown on Showcase TV Sky Channel 191. The Saturday night concert to be held in the Conyngham Arms Hotel will see Colum and Ben Sands of the famous Sands Family folk group from Rostrevor in County Down take to the stage, supported by local Slane band Carolan. The concert starts at 8.30pm.

Sunday morning July 13th at 11 am, the festival mass will take place in St Patrick's Church, Slane, always an important part of the festival programme. The closing concert will also be held in the Conyngham Arms Hotel later in the evening at 7.30 pm and will have iconic accordion player Martin Donohoe from Co Cavan along with other very talented family musicians. Also performing will be famous lilter Seamus Fay and storyteller Eamonn Maguire. Performing songs and verse from the Slane and Tara areas will be Mary Crilly, Phylis Ward, Brian Murphy and Dick Murphy while members of the Kentstown School accordion orchestra and music students from Slane National School will also perform on the night.

Tickets for the weekend events can be purchased at the Conyngham Arms Hotel reception at 041-9884444 or at the Slane Hub office at 041-9824000. There is a special weekend ticket available at both outlets costing €20. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on each night.

 

Visit www.thejohnstonsfolkfest.com.

Facebook: The –Johnstons-Music Festival.

Mobile: 087-6734768.