*Photograph: Ruth Griffin
FEAKLE FESTIVAL is in the running to be named small music festival of the year.
Nominated in a shortlist of ten for small music festival of the year in the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) awards, Feakle Festival is competing alongside the likes of Other Voices held in Dingle plus Night and Day in Roscommon. The award ceremony takes place on March 25th in The Sugar Club.
Irish venues that deliver the best standards in live music entertainment are recognised in the awards. Hundreds of venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 20,000 IMRO members were asked to nominate their top choices in an online poll. Venues were judged on their ambience, staging, sound/lighting facilities, diversity of music programming, accessibility for people with disabilities, venue staff and management and the work they undertake in promoting the venue and its programme of music events.
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards acknowledge the immense efforts made by music venues across Ireland, through the provision of world class entertainment for their customers, their vital contribution to local economies and the significant role they play in providing a public platform for songwriters, composers and performers.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connacht, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan). In addition to this IMRO members nominated their top music festival choices.
Held in August, the 2024 iteration of the Feakle Festival was its thirty seventh. Guests included the Liam MacCarthy and Allianz National Hurling League trophies which were proudly brought to the East Clare village by Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan and Conn Smyth.
Martin Hayes’ mark on the festival was also honoured in August. The Maghera native who has gone on to international acclaim has only missed the Feakle Festival twice in its running.
Eileen O’Brien, Sorcha Costelloe, Mary MacNamara, Brian Donnellan, Danny O’Mahony, Geraldine McNamara, Gearóid McNamara, Paraic McDonnchadha, Terrance O’Reilly, Suzanne Leahy and Cáit Ní Ríaín were other musicians to perform at the festival while the late Brían O’Rourke was also remembered.
Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) who is Martin’s brother said of the nomination, “that is a big thing for us, it is something of value”.
