Latest news with #BallygawleyMusicFestival
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Sligo's Got Music winners announced as Phoenix Band take the title
'We are delighted to announce the winners of Sligo's Got Music. We are thrilled with the project and the many entries we received from all over the country. 'The judging panel had great difficulty with choosing the winner. We want to congratulate the Phoenix Band.' The project aimed to showcase the north-west's wide range of musical talent and create a platform for up-and-coming artists. 'We want to thank our partners Ocean FM and the Creative Ireland Programme who helped us made this project possible.' Phoenix Band will now receive a full day recording day at Blue Room Studio in North Sligo and will sing at Ballygawley Music Festival this weekend.
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
The top ten things to do in Sligo this week, July 16-22: Ballygawley Music Festival, Jazz Festival, Wipeout & more
Ballygawley Music Festival and Sligo Jazz 2025 get underway in the coming days, while South Sligo Summer School continues until this weekend. Check out our top pick of this week's events below. Ballygawley Music Festival Ballygawley Music Festival takes place this weekend from Friday July 18 until Sunday July 20 in Ballygawley and is expected to sell-out. Enjoy music from Johnny Brady, Mike Denver, Claudia Buckley and more. Tickets available from Sligo Jazz 2025 Sligo Jazz Project's annual Summer School and Festival runs from 22-27 July 2025, bringing a team of 33 world-class musicians from all over the world to teach and perform in Sligo. Sligo will become a global hub for music lovers, students, and jazz legends, as it hosts Europe's largest and most inclusive Jazz Summer School alongside its internationally renowned Jazz Festival. See for more South Sligo Summer School South Sligo Summer School continues in Tubbercurry until this Saturday, July 19. Classes and workshops continue, and there will be lots of live music and dancing throughout the remainder of the festival. Wipeout Wipeout Festival is taking place in Strandhill this Saturday July 19 from 1pm. The festival aims to promote new independently minded bands playing original music, giving them the platform to perform at an outdoor festival on the grounds of the National Surf Centre in Strandhill. This free all day music festival features bands from Dublin and Belfast and of course Sligo. Brendan Kelly band Enjoy a night of fantastic live music with the Brendan Kelly Band at Lillie's Cocktail Bar Sligo! on Thursday July 17. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience a memorable evening of great music. Tickets via eventbrite Aine Gordon Áine Gordon is a singer-songwriter based in Belfast. Her music blends melodic indie folk with narrative-driven lyrics, capturing everyday moments through themes of longing, resilience, and life's uncertainties. See her live at Brees Strandhill on Tuesday, July 22. Tickets via eventbrite. Lunchtime at the Well Lunchtime at the Well continues with a special performance from Jacinta Ní Chonghaile, Aidan Shannon and Enda McGreevy who will be performing at the Hawk's Well on Wednesday July 16 at 1:10pm. These events are free to attend (pay what you can). Rambling House Rambling House takes place at the Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen on Wednesday, July 16 from 8pm. The Rambling House Concerts are cherished events that celebrate Ireland's rich tradition of music, song, and storytelling. ADVERTISEMENT Sligo Stages Rally The FAAC Simply Automatic/Sligo Park Hotel Stages Rally takes place this Sunday, July 20. A full entry of 165 cars plus eight Dacia Sandero crews will leave Parc Fermé at Sligo Retail Park, Carraroe, at 9am on Sunday, with the first car due at the Connolly Cupra finish ramp at the Sligo Park Hotel from 5.30pm. International Chess Day Celebrate international chess day this Sunday, July 20 at Queen Maeve Square from 11am-5pm where there will be workshops, casual games and a mini-tournament. It's free to join.
Irish Independent
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Festivals running the risk of closing as call goes out for more funding from Fáilte Ireland
And, Cllr Thomas Walsh claimed that Fáilte Ireland were 'asleep at the wheel' as it has only given Sligo County Council a 'paltry €26,000' to run local festivals in the past five years. Cllr Walsh, who is involved with the Ballygawley Music Festival and Sligo Live, said festivals were hanging by a thread. He was speaking amid fears for the independent festival scene, after Sea Sessions in Bundoran announced it isn't going ahead this year, while a liquidator was appointed to the company behind the Wild Roots Festival in Sligo last year and is no more. Meanwhile, Barry O'Neill organiser of the hugely popular Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshanon has expressed fears for its future. Cllr Walsh said: 'There was a small bit of support for events over Covid but then inflation kicked in post Covid, and nothing was put in place for live festival events. 'So, costs have skyrocketed, and it is something I have been highlighting for years and the whole events thing is hanging on by a thread. 'This is because of huge increased costs, and I know from Ballygawley Music Festival in July and Sligo Summer Festival who were hoping to run a second weekend on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, but it was not possible because it would cost them an extra €70,000 to run a second weekend. 'Sligo Live and Cairde and our own festival are very successful, but our costs in Ballygawley are up on €120,000 which includes insurance, operational costs, site set up costs, energy costs and the cost of the acts have gone up because of the knock- on effects of the increase in the price of fuel for travel and their insurance has gone up too. 'All of that is passed on to the festivals and the organisers are forced to pass that on to the price of the ticket which is regrettable but necessary,' he said. Cllr Walsh added that nine smaller festivals collapsed in 2024, and the UK has the same problem where 60 folded last year. ADVERTISEMENT He added that another factor impacting was the huge crowds attending headline acts in Croke Park, the Aviva or other major venues. 'These massive artists sell out venues, but they are portraying a false economy because people are saving their money for the big festivals and not supporting the smaller ones.' Cllr Walsh was critical of Fáilte Ireland. 'Its budget from the State last year was €140m and all they give Sligo County Council for events in the county is a mere €26,000. That would not pay for a marquee, insurance etc 'Ballygawley gets €4,000 from Fáilte Ireland for an event that costs €120,000, so it would not cover even the toilet facilities.' 'But they do good work in terms of capital spending and Queen Maeve Square would not be there only for Failte Ireland and Strandhill Surf Centre of Excellence, so they are doing well on the capital side. 'But they are not supporting live is a three night festival and 5,000 people were there last year. Cllr Walsh added that Irish Public Bodies IPB who supply insurance and public liability for all Council offices and State facilities, could open it up to live events and it would take the cost away from the operator. 'I believe the State should take over the insurance via IPB which is their own insurance policy.' 'Fáilte Ireland should be made increase the funding to local authorities and I am talking about events of 500 and over and less than 5,000. '€26,000 is a kick in the teeth for Sligo festivals and €100,000 per local authority would not be out of the way and that is the reality of it. 'It would just get their heads above water and festivals are in survival mode all over the country. Cllr Walsh added that culture and arts were the backbone of our economy. 'There is a huge knock- on benefit for Sligo from all these festivals so they should be supported. 'Fáilte Ireland is the vehicle for tourism, and they talk about supporting visitor attractions and festivals but really they are not supporting festivals. 'Unless there is an injection of cash into these festivals more of them are going to collapse.'
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Budding musicians urged to enter ‘Sligo's Got Music' competition
The project aims to showcase the Northwest's wide range of musical talent. The project is being coordinated by Ballygawley Music Festival who have partnered with Ocean FM and is supported under the Creative Ireland Programme. Six finalists/songs will be chosen from the entries to sing live on Ocean FM over June. The winner will receive a full day recording day at Blue Room Studio in North Sligo and will sing at Ballygawley Music Festival in July. The winner will be announced on Ocean FM on July 11th. Speaking at the launch, Thomas Walsh from Ballygawley Music Festival said:, ''We are really excited about this project. We are eager to give a space to up and coming artists and to showcase the vast musical talent that we have across this region. Patricia Keane, Acting Creative Ireland Coordinator said, 'Sligo County Council are pleased to support Sligo's Got Music through the Creative Ireland Programme. Sligo's Got Music allows artists an opportunity to develop their creativity by composing original compositions or interpreting previous recordings. The initiative is a wonderful opportunity for everyone in the community to experience local artists performing live music'. Mark Halton, Creative Director Ocean FM, said, ' We are delighted to be involved in this great initiative with Ballygawley Music Festival. Ocean FM has always prided itself on supporting both local and Irish artists. Over the past few years, we have worked closely with IBI, Hot Press and Coimisiún na Meán to help promote Irish artists via the Irish Music Months 'New Local Hero' that has seen local artists such as Paddy Keyes receive national acclaim'. Entries must be submitted to ballygawleymusicfestival@ in *wav or *mp3 format. Entries open on May 1st and close on the 6th of June. For more information visit
