Boomtown Rats among highlights as Sligo Live entertains fans

FROM rock music to comedy, Sligo Live had it all for fans who flocked to the Northwest at the weekend for another packed festival programme.

Organisers of the event, now in its 14 th year, said they were very happy overall with how the festival went.

Comedian Dara O’Briain, the Boomtown Rats and the Bootleg Beatles drew in huge audiences as did the gigs in the Hawk’s Well and the Arrivals.

There were record crowds throughout the weekend and Rory O’Connor, organiser, said that feedback from the fans was very good.

“We are delighted with the success of Sligo Live this year. “Some of our initiatives like the three strong independent women’s co-productions with the Hawk’s Well and our reintroduction of live comedy to the programme were particularly successful with everything a sell-out.

“Willie Kelly programmed this year’s Arrivals and his selections together with the strong fringe put on by many of the pubs and cafes saw full houses and delighted audiences all over town.

“It has really been a fantastic year and we are looking forward to another amazing Festival in 2019,” Rory added.

“Some changes were necessary this year with Shane Mitchell’s need to step back and concentrate on Dervish’s exciting new developments, so the team was strengthened with wonderfully capable people like Willie, Jean MacDonald, Elsa Kelly, Fiona O’Connor whose operational and administration skills held us all together and our technical, market research and front of house teams who worked tirelessly during the festival period to give the public a fantastic Sligo Live experience.

“I think we all need to give them a huge vote of thanks for making the long weekend a major success,” Rory added.

Sligo Live celebrated the area’s dynamic musical personality with thousands of music fans descended on the town. Restaurants, pubs and hoteliers were packed over the 6 days with an electrifying buzz around the streets and venues. There was a great feel-good atmosphere throughout the weekend. Among the top names performing in the Hawk’s Well were Lisa Hannigan and Susan O’Neill, with Woodville native Niamh Farrell and Saint Sister also receiving rave reviews as did Rhiannon Giddens and special guest Liz Carroll. Another successful Sligo Live to look back on.

Caroline Eaton, Susan Conway, Lesley Eaton and Siobhain Eaton at the Bootleg Beatles.

Marie McLoughlin, Secretary, Town Branch, Sligo Comhaltas, Rebecca McGrath, 2nd, Cllr.Declan Bree, John Scott, Town Branch, Sligo Comhaltas, Mayor of Sligo Municipal District, Cllr. Rosaleen O’Grady, Hayley Richardson, 1st, Verona Ryan, Vice Chairperson, Town Branch, Sligo Comhaltas, Martin Enright, Chairperson, Town Branch, Sligo Comhaltas and Caoimhe Flannery, 3rd in the Fiddler of Dooney.

Fans of the Boomtown Rats at the concert in the Knocknarea Arena on Saturday night.

Pic: Rebecca McGrath 2nd, Hayley Richardson, 1st and Caoimhe Flannery, 3rd in the Fiddler of Dooney competition in the Methodist Hall, last Sunday. Carl Brennan.

The Bootleg Beatles on stage in the Knocknarea Arena.

Niamh and Chris Gonley.