Building on success: Longford gears up for return of Marquee in Drumlish Festival

The 2023 version of the annual event will attract music lovers to the thrilling gathering from August 18-21.

This year's shindig promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with four fantastic nights of musical entertainment in store and many musical talents making their return to the Drumlish stages.

“It's going well, the site works are underway as we speak,” Ciarán Lennon of The Marquee of Drumlish Festival organising committee told the Leader as the final preparations are being undertaken.

Those preparations are to make sure returning visitors will find something new in Drumlish: “We are extending the site where the Marquee Festival happens. There will be more facilities and it will be more spacious than previous years.

“Every year we strive to build on the previous year. There are limits to what a community voluntary festival can do, but we work hard to set the bar a bit higher every year.

“There are other events and festivals out there, but The Marquee of Drumlish Festival is well supported because we continue to deliver year-on-year,” Ciarán said.

The four day family festival in the heart of the Midlands caters for all tastes, young and old alike with a feast of music, fun and events for all the family in the County Longford village.

“It has broad appeal, we have a good few music genres. The festival is known for the top class country music, but we really do cater for a wide audience, young and old.”

The Festival kicks off with a youth disco on Thursday, but the Festival propperly gets underway on Friday, August 18 with Oasis tribute band Live Forever and DJ Fergal D’Arcy taking to the stage.

Saturday's line up features strong country flavour a including Johnny Brady, Ray Lynam and Mike Denver.

The Sunday's entertainment is brought to the audience by All Folk’d Up, Ruaile Buaile and local group Cronin.

The last night of the festival, as always, will see local legend Declan Nerney take centre stage.

The annual music extravaganza has been held in August every year since 2009 and features top Irish performers.

Ensuring that continued success of the Festival is the remit of a dedicated band: “There is a core committee of about 10 volunteers. Other people who come on board as the event gets closer. There are a massive amount of volunteers over the weekend, from bar staff to stewards. A lot of people from the community and voluntary groups in Drumlish and Ballinamuck are involved over the weekend,” the organising committee member said.

The beneficiaries of the voluntary work are all local: “Father Manning Gaels have been hosting the event since 2011. The main profits go to the club, but other voluntary groups involved also get donations.

“It's massive for Longford. Events like this and others that happen across the country bring a real buzz to Longford. One of the big stumbling blocks to the development is the lack of accommodation. It's great for the community and of course in building community spirit,” Ciarán concluded.

The Marquee in Drumlish Festival will run from Friday, August 18 to Sunday, August 21.