12 new acts added to Spirit of Folk line-up

Festival organisers Natasha and Emily Duffy have officially launched the second year of the Spirit of Folk Festival and announced over a dozen new acts to the line-up. The festival returns to Dunderry Park from 21st-23rd September, and looks to build on the success of last year to create an original, intimate, and inspiring event. The line-up, which also features two-time Meteor Award winner John Spillane, was extended significantly with the additions of an exclusive Irish date from award-winning, folk-rock Glastonbury favourites, Treetop Flyers. Kildare singer-songwriter Ross Breen, and Dublin based folk-pop group Little xs for Eyes were also added to the line-up along with The Cujo Family, David Hope, Coscan, Lynched, Wicker Bones, Easy Buoy, Gordon Reeves, Corner Boy, No Bread, Wyvern Lingo, Mark Maxwell, The Greasy Coates, Polly Barrett, and John Blek and the Rats, bringing the number of acts performing over the weekend to over 40. The festival also acts as a 'celebration of all things folk'. This includes a strong focus on activities that run alongside the music. Some of Ireland's best seanchaí, including Eddie Lenihan and Pat Speight, will perform throughout the weekend in a replica megalithic cairn, Astronomy Ireland will give festival goers a chance to view the stars from the perspective of our ancient ancestors, and The Wildlife Trust will run interactive activities for kids of all ages. Festival goers will also have the chance to learn ancient still such as archery and falconry and will get to test their wits in 'The Hall of Heroes'; the area of the festival where gaming and competition is expressed through unique games such as bicycle jousting, folk aerobics and the ancient art of table tennis. For those that prefer to relax and take in the beautiful surroundings there is a whole forest and field dedicated to holistic lifestyle with a healing area offering treatments from acupuncture to massage and tipis open all weekend for drumming and mandala workshops. Natasha Duffy, one of the festival organisers, explained the rationale behind attempting to create an event that is more than the average music festival: 'We want festival goers to leave feeling better than they came, full of optimism and new ideas. For that reason we have curated the event to include alternative activities you might not usually find at a festival while still providing stellar entertainment from some of the most inspiring artists in Ireland and the UK at the moment' This year the festival is set to explore new ground by staging a play, in collaboration with the Gaiety School of Acting. 'The Return of the Fianna' is an original comedy featuring characters from Irish mythology that will be performed on Saturday and Sunday. With the additions to an already strong line-up, Spirit of Folk, which is being supported by Meath Partnerships LEADER programme, promises to be a unique, boutique event which can offer a spot of sunshine before the end of the summer. Spirit of Folk runs from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd September. Weekend camping tickets start at €85. Day tickets cost €45, and children under 14 can go free. More information on the festival, including the full line-up and range of activities can be found at www.spiritoffolk.com ENDS