Longford Lights Festive in running for national award

Longford County Council's collaboration with artist Tom Meskell for the Longford Lights Festival is shortlisted in the Best Creativity in the Community section of the Business to Arts Awards.

Over 11,000 people attended the Longford Lights Festival which took place on 24-26 February 2023 at Connolly Barracks in Longford Town.

Bula Bula Samba band

Taking place on Tuesday, 12 September at the National Concert Hall, the annual Business to Arts Awards is Ireland’s only event that recognises excellence in creative and cultural partnerships, where a business, philanthropic organisation or individual has supported the arts in a compelling way.

Running for over 30 years, the Business to Arts Awards feature a range of categories celebrating arts sponsorship, commissioning, philanthropy, staff engagement programmes, corporate social responsibility, access programmes, creative community initiatives, and more.

Welcoming the shortlisting of the partnership that brought about Longford Lights, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Colm Murray congratulated all involved. “I’d like to pay tribute to our forward-thinking Arts Service and local artists Tom Meskell for making Longford Lights a reality, this is wonderful recognition of the talent that makes our communities so vibrant, congratulations to all.”

Chief Executive Officer Paddy Mahon added, “We are delighted to see that Longford Lights, which is fast becoming a flagship event for Longford, is being recognised in this way – fostering creativity in our communities is a key priority for Longford County Council.”