Dingle prepares for a flood of music lovers

DINGLE is preparing for an influx of music lovers as the town plays host to the Other Voices festival for the 17 th year this weekend.

Of the thousands of people who will travel for the event , only 80 people can be accommodated in the 19th century St. James Church but multiples of that will watch the live concerts in pubs about the town. It is a sight to behold how these premises transform into venues where viewers respectfully and silently watch the live stream from St James’s on a screen.

The people who travel to Dingle join with the locals to make up an audience that is drawn from all walks of life and age groups. They are fans of music true and true and they are welcomed with open arms in the various hosteleries in the town. “It is a brilliant weekend,” said Sorcha who works in An Conair. ““e work hard but I just love it. The people who come are great – they are here for the music. “

The willingness of the parish of St James Church to share their place of worship is one of the cornerstones of Other Voices and in turn the festival has provided the small parish with a worldwide audience for their ongoing fundraising efforts. Rev Phyllis Jones, Minister of the church, explains that “St James’s Church needs up to €500,000 to carry out essential repairs and conservation work to bring it into the 21st ´Century where it will continue to serve as a shared creative and spiritual space for both the community and visitors to the area”.

Other Voices Director Philip King is clear in the relationship between St. James’s and Other Voices. “We are so grateful to all at the Church of St James for their welcome and hospitality over the last 17 years. This small, beautifully appointed church, located right in the centre of Dingle is the home of Other Voices and at the heart of the whole affair. St James’s has generously opened its doors to receive the musicians and artists who have enriched the lives of the local community and visitors alike. The building and the grounds are beautiful but need attention and care. With that attention St James’s can continue to provide a sanctuary for its own community and an essential receiving house for artists and musicians local, national and international.”

The symbiotic relationship between Dingle and Other Voices has helped local musicians expand their audience. Walking on Cars benefited from appearing on the televised show and this year Cormac Begly is taking to the stage in the now world famous church.

During the early part of the week the town was preparing before the trucks and the music professionals roll into town. At the back of An Conair work is underway contructing a marquee that will transform the Spa Road pub into the Other Room venue. Just up the road in Nellie Fred’s there was no access to The Garage vebye where freshly poured concrete was drying – hopefully without footprints.

The general concensus is that it is one of the better weekends in Dingle and in response Dingel puts its best foot forward to welcome musicians, talkers and thinkers for a weekend of audio and cerebral invigoration.

COMPETITION WINNERS

Last, but not least, the winners of the competition we ran on these pages last week for tickets to the Other Voices concerts in St James’s on Saturday night and for the Ireland’s Edge conference in the Skellig Hotel are as follows:

Other Voices: Brendan and Nancy Falvey, Annascaul.

Ireland’s Edge: Bríd Doyle, Dingle.

Philip King with Rev Phyllis Jones at St James’s Church which has “opened its doors to receive the musicians and artists who have enriched the lives of the local community and visitors alike”.