Bailiú organisers ‘delighted’ with success of first festival
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Mary Ahearne (centre) with Aoife Raleigh and Maria Corcoran from Symmetry Circus.Image 2 of 14
Adrian Ennis from the organising committee with John Donlon from Mullingar Arts Centre.Image 3 of 14
Paul Timoney (storyteller) and Ali Morris (festival committee).Image 4 of 14
Rumi and Laelah McCormack from Ballinagore.Image 5 of 14
Darbha Doran and Tadhg Figg from Raharney.Image 6 of 14
Joni, Richard and Mark O’Hara from Mullingar.Image 7 of 14
Amy Coffey and Muireann Fagan at Mullingar Arts Centre for the Bailiú family fun event.Image 8 of 14
Joe, Conor, Vanessa and Patrick Rice from Sonna.Image 9 of 14
Ian and Peadar O’Reilly from Killucan.Image 10 of 14
Jenson, Dvlyn and Sarah Jayapragasan from Mullingar.Image 11 of 14
Terence Casey with Angel the pigeon.Image 12 of 14
Annemarie and Mary Boyhan from Castlepollard.Image 13 of 14
Madeline Maguire from Ballynacargy.Image 14 of 14
Kathleen McCormack, Karen McCormack and Pep Sheridan from Ballinagore.The organisers of Bailiú, a new festival in Mullingar that took place over the May bank holiday weekend, are “delighted” with its success and are already looking forward to next year.
It ran from May 1 to May 11 when events like concerts, workshops, walks and movie screenings took place all across the town.
The event aims to pay homage to those who travelled to the nearby Hill of Uisneach in ancient times to celebrate Bealtaine, the beginning of summer.
Festival director Ali Morris said it was a “lovely weekend” for all.
“On the opening Friday night, we had David Kitt do a gig as himself in Clarke’s, before he did a live electronic set in Smiddy’s afterwards with his alter ego ‘New Jackson’,” she said.
“On Saturday, we had a documentary in Cúige Studios that went really well, and that was followed by a chat with farmers and food producers afterwards.
“We also had a gig for Palestine on Saturday, and we had a family fun day in Mullingar Arts Centre on Sunday that had storytelling, circus acts and a craft workshop with Mary Ahearn that the kids absolutely loved.
“It was really good and people were just excited to have things on.” Ms Morris said the festival was well received throughout Mullingar. “Everyone is looking forward to next year already; that’s the feedback we’re getting,” she said.
“We have got great feedback from venue partners – who want to be more involved with the organisation of it next year.
“They see the potential of it to turn into a flagship event for the town, which is all we can hope for after our first outing.
“There were calls for more events in the calendar year for Mullingar after the fleadh is gone, and that’s what we’re trying to provide, and will continue to do.”
Ms Morris thanked the organising committee behind the festival for making it such a success.
Other events were held throughout the week in the likes of Kerrigan’s and the Annebrook House Hotel, which also sponsored the event.
The other sponsors were Just Books, Bloomfield House Hotel, Smyths Hardware, Kilmurray’s Homevalue, The Animal Collective.
The team behind Bailiú are currently exploring the possibility of holding other festivals throughout the year in line with the main Celtic calendar festivals of Samhain, Bealtaine, Imbolc and Lughnasa.