*Damien O’Rourke. Photograph: Joe Buckley
SHANNON IS SET for a seven day music festival which takes flight this coming Monday (February 20th).
Led by Damien O’Rourke of Cuppa Tea TV, Wings Festival is back for its second run in Shannon having proven to be a popular event in June 2022.
An open session kicks off the festival on Monday at The Shannon Springs Hotel at 7pm where all performers and listeners are welcome. The Terrace Bar hosts an open mic on Tuesday at 7pm.
Youth in Music takes control from St Patrick’s Comprehensive on Wednesday morning at 10:30am while the Hope Café hosts Ger O’Donnell, Trevor Sexton, David Hope, Ali Hayes and the Shannon Gospel Choir from 7:30pm.
Music moves to Newmarket-on-Fergus on Thursday where The Honk hosts a Slow Session from Sheila and Friends.
On Friday, Shannon Springs welcomes Cyril O’Donoghue and Blackie O’Connell on stage at 7:30pm while the later concert has North of Fortitude, Blue Herring, Wingmen and Moses McGuinness.
Multiple events will take place across the course of Saturday including busking in the town centre, a ukulele workshop at the grounds of Wolfe Tones GAA club, a drum workshop plus music from Sticky Fingers, 16 Tons Of Jive, Stoney Wall, Mangled Badgers and Fionn Hayes.
A Wings Wind Down Session is planned for Sunday at 1pm in the Shannon Springs.
O’Rourke has said the idea of spreading events across the town like a musical trail is inspired by the Shannonside Winter Music Festival and Doolin Folk Festival. The Shannon festival is named after a chipper that served as a major meeting point but it also acknowledges the town’s link to Shannon Airport.
