Longford's Cruthú tops a decade of magical memories

“I am absolutely delighted with the way it went,” Gene Rhatigan, Festival Chairperson, said of the event, “It's our 10th year. We have had a lot of changes, this year we moved in different directions. We did a good deal of travelling to research how other festivals put their programme together, scouting new acts and finding new ways to engage with our audience. We were really thrilled with the way things went, everything was really well supported.”

From the opening exhibition in Providers on Tuesday to the spectacular Ro with the Flow fire show outside at St Mel's Cathedral on Sunday it was six days of supreme entertainment.

“We got back some old friends of the festival, like Andrais de Staic and his Latchikos and we also had some new and innovative offerings like Louise Ding Ding,” Gene said.

The high point of the Cruthú Arts Festival came on Saturday night when Hermitage Green performed in the mystical setting of St John's Church, Longford.

Gene said the Saturday show was special: “We welcomed Hermitage Green for the first time. It's a sign of where we want to go with the festival. They are a top headline act. They were supported by Amble who got to make their debut in Longford. I can see them headlining this festival, if not next year, then perhaps the year after.”

Cruthú is very much a Longford show: “We are thrilled with the number of local artists who got to display their work. This festival will continue to grow. That is what we are all about. Growing local talent, giving people the opportunity to express themselves.”

Gene spoke of the leg work needed to get the festival off the ground: “When it comes to two or three weeks before the festival I get nervous. I wonder if we have done enough, if we are going to be good enough, but when you get the reaction we get from the local audience it makes all the effort worthwhile.”

There were many high points over the six days. Wednesday's 'A Night At The Pictures' had all the glamour of a gala opening night, while PV's was the venue for a well received poetry readings on Thursday.

The Enchanted Island presented a 'promenade play' on Friday taking the audience to the legendary vanishing Island Hy-Brazil.
The musical contributions of Shane Kennedy, Aindrias de Staic and the Latchikos, TBL8 Brass, and POMPE made the10th Cruthú Arts Festival a memorable event for all who were lucky enough to attend.

The Street Show in Pig Market Lane by Ro with the Flow and Louise Ding Ding was a silly, fun-filled show for all the family that brought a ray of sunshine to an otherwise dull weekend.

Cruthú Arts Festival also saw the fantastic Strasbourg Youth Symphony Orchestra bring an enrapturing performance to St Mel's Cathedral on Sunday. The 10th Cruthú arts festival was a triumph for the local arts community.