All you need to know about the Longford Lights Festival 2024

The Longford Lights Festival 2024 returns to Connolly Barracks in Longford Town from Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25 from 6pm to 9pm each evening. Find out everything you need to know to plan your visit!

What to expect: the largest community-based arts lights festival in Ireland with thousands of lights on display across twenty-eight art installations, many of which are interactive for audiences.

Visitors will experience an illuminated journey through the Connolly Barracks campus, with information boards on artists and installations on display throughout.

Over 11,000 people attended last year and this year is anticipated to be even bigger again throughout the three evenings.
There will be installations on display courtesy of twenty-three artists who worked with forty-three schools and community groups from around county Longford.

Led by Artistic Director Caroline Conway, there will be increased performance and interactive elements to the festival this year, including from the internationally acclaimed Spanish troupe Cal y Canto Teatro.

Longford Lights is largest festival of its kind in Ireland, there will be plenty to experience with samba drummers, fire dancers and gigantic video projections brimming over with vibrancy. That will be alongside the calming, beautiful, lantern installations which local crowds have now come to know and love.

Tickets are still available. You will find a direct link to book your free tickets on the homepage of Longfordcoco.ie. You can present your ticket on your phone screen to get into the festival, or if you prefer, you can visit any Longford Library branch to print out your ticket for free. One ticket is required for every person attending.

Making your way inside and around the event: The main entrance into Longford Lights will be surrounded by barriers with a temporary pedestrian crossing in place at Church Street. In the interest of health and safety, please follow the directions of Gardaí and event stewards at all times.

Traffic and Parking: Heavy traffic is anticipated throughout Longford town throughout the weekend, particularly on Battery Road, Church Street and Lower Main Street.

We are asking people to utilise all public car parks as on-street parking will be limited and to plan to walk the few minutes to the venue from the car park of your choice.

Some of the nearest options, for convenience include: Longford County Council car parks on Great Water Street and at Camlin Court; the Longford Town Centre car park and Geraldine Terrace car park next to it, as well as the Main Street Car Park and the St Mel’s Road car park.

All of these locations are within a few minutes' walking distance of Connolly Barracks.

Accessibility: If you or a member of your party requires access to disabled parking, please ensure to book your ticket in advance online and select the accessibility required ticket option.

Organisers will be in touch via email with directions to suitable allocated parking options later this week. Please follow the directions of event stewards and Gardaí on site.

For those with sensory issues, Longford Lights aims to be a sensory-friendly experience with ambient low-level soundscapes throughout.

However, performances by the Samba Band (anticipated at approximately 30-minute intervals) will be louder but can easily be avoided at the venue. Please seek advice from one of our friendly stewards if help is required.

Be weather-ready: Please dress appropriately for seasonal February weather with good walking shoes and waterproofs, especially in the event of rain. The festival is predominantly outdoor and walking paths are mostly flat and suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.

Health and Safety: As Longford Lights festival stewards will be identifiable by high-visibility clothing, we would appreciate it if attendees avoid wearing high-visibility clothing to prevent any confusion.

Led by Longford County Council and its Arts Office, the festival is a partnership with Mide Arts Group with support from the Arts Council, Creative Ireland, and Longford Tourism, also part of Longford County Council.

Looking forward to the event, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Counci, Colm Murray, said, “It's great to see Longford Lights back and growing in confidence as it promises to be even bigger than last year. I look forward to the fantastic atmosphere which this festival brings to Longford Town. I encourage everyone to book your free tickets and come along to see this spectacle.”

Artistic Director Caroline Conway spoke of the coming together of the local and artistic communities saying, “Longford Lights is different to other festivals in the way the local community is the foundation of the whole project.

“Working together with both international and local artists, this year’s festival promises to be more interactive for audiences and we can’t wait for you to see it!” Ms Conway said.

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added, “Longford Lights Festival demonstrates the Council’s commitment to the arts and the value we recognise in a vibrant local arts and culture sector. We look forward to seeing what all the artists and the local community will showcase this coming weekend.”

The festival runs from 6pm to 9pm each evening, on the weekend of Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25.
Large attendance is anticipated so to avoid disappointment book your free ticket by finding a direct link to tickets on the homepage of Longfordcoco.ie.

Follow Longford County Council on social media for further information on Longford Lights.