Longford Summer Festival brings a ray of sunshine through the rain

The rain did everything it could to dampen the spirits of the revellers who flocked to Longford to enjoy the Summer Festival, but those who ignored the inclement conditions were treated to a feast of quality music.
After a three year, Covid induced hiatus, Longford Summer Festival provided four nights of entertainment on the streets of the county town.

The event opened on last Thursday with Johnny Brady, with Nathan Carter on Friday, Bagatelle & friends on Saturday, and Audio Pilot rounding out the line up on Sunday.

“Considering the weather we are very happy with the way things went. About 9,000 people attended the music concerts over the four nights,” organiser Deputy Joe Flaherty said of the event.
“We are very thankful to the people of Longford who came out and supported their festival. It is important to have a festival and we were determined to get one up and running this year.

“We had some very damp nights, but we had a wonderful finishing night with local favourites Audio Pilot. They sent everyone home with a simile on their face,” Deputy Flaherty told the Leader.
The local band's performance to finished out the programme was a real crowd pleaser.

Deputy Flaherty said all the artists entertained despite the rain. “Nathan Carter performed in very wet conditions, but the crowd still loved him.
“For Bagatelle and Friends the weather was very mixed, Johnny Brady had a great night and it was very clear for Audio Pilot. I think everyone would agree that the local lads were the high point of the festival. It's some achievement to be a home town band and close out the Festival in the style that they did.”

The Festival organiser, alongside local publicans Andy Byrne and Eddie Valentine, was very pleased with the way things went.
“We were very happy. There was no issues on the street. It was very well policed. Gilmore Security did a very good job. There were plenty of the luminous jackets of the Civid Defence and the Order of Malta dotted around. It could not have happened without the team of volunteers.”

Deputy Flaherty concluded by expressing his his optimism that the event will return next year: “That's the hope. We will dust ourselves down, talk to our sponsors and look at what we can do next year.”