Hundreds gather for the eighth Gap Arts Festival in Ballythomas
THE eighth Gap Arts Festival took place in Ballythomas over the weekend and it was the most successful one since it first began in 2011.
The number of audience members, participants, and artists were all up, as were the range and spread of shows and engagements on offer. Extra seats had to be put in for the play Silent and for the short film Titania’s Palace.
Festival Director Garrett Keogh said this year will be mostly remembered for the way in which volunteers and audience members took ownership of the festival.
‘For TheGig@TheGap, Gorey musician Jimi Cullen mentored young musicians, but when guitarist and sound engineer Marc Aubele got involved it morphed into a seven-hour gig with two hundred people enjoying six bands,’ said Garrett.
As part of the Community Portrait Project, six photographers set up The Face of the Festival – a Pagoda Tent Studio where anyone could have their portrait taken for free.
A total of 150 parents and children braved the rain on Saturday afternoon. Circus Outside the Box moved indoors and ran an unscheduled acro-circus workshop. The next day, the Gorey Ukes moved outside for a family concert in the sunshine.
There will be another chance to see the short film Titania’s Palace at a special screening in Kilanerin during Heritage Week on Saturday, August 18, until Sunday, August 26. Time and date to be confirmed.