Latest news with #NightandDayFestival
Irish Independent
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Roscommon's Night and Day Festival hailed as ‘a resounding success' after 6,000 flock to Boyle
A host of well-known performers, including Paul Brady, The Stunning, Jose Gonzalez, Paul Brady, Lisa Hannigan, The Wailers, Sultans of Ping, Fionn Regan, Hermitage Green, Joshua Burnside, Efa O'Neill, Nialler9, and many more entertained the crows as Lough Key Forest Park was transformed into a 'haven of creativity and camaraderie' over three nights. Co-founded by Mayo native and Irish Daily Mail Political Editor Craig Hughes, the festival was blessed with good weather and hosted a range of family friendly activities in the Roscommon countryside. Mr Hughes told the Irish Independent that 6,000 people attended the festival over the three days, making it the best-attended Night And Day Festival to date. The first Night and Day Festival took place in 2022 at Clonalis House in Castlerea. It moved to its current location at Lough Key Forest Park in 2023. The festival has grown into one of the biggest and most popular summer festivals in the region and draws attendees from across the country. 'What a truly incredible weekend we've had here at Lough Key Forest Park,' said one of the organisers. 'The energy, the talent, and the sheer delight on everyone's faces have been truly overwhelming. The Wailers' performance was the perfect culmination, leaving everyone with a feeling of exhilaration and warmth. We are immensely grateful to all the artists, our dedicated team, and, most importantly, our wonderful attendees who made this year's Night and Day Festival a resounding success.'
The Journal
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Are small music festivals in Ireland becoming a thing of the past? Organisers weigh in
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago ORGANISERS OF INDEPENDENT music festivals in Ireland have said that mounting costs are making it harder for them to keep going each year. Earlier this month there was confusion about whether major player Beyond The Pale would go ahead, and beloved smaller festivals are not going ahead this summer, including Bundoran Sea Sessions, Body and Soul, and Wild Roots. In Ballyshannon, Donegal, organiser Barry O'Neill says that it's currently uncertain whether the famed Rory Gallagher Festival will be able to go ahead next year either. It's been a staple of Ireland's independent music scene since 2002, and was originally founded as a way to honour the late great musician, but has since grown into a real tourism highlight for Donegal each summer. 'We attract 15,000 people each year and they come from all over, so this festival has become really essential to not just Ballyshannon, but the entire North West,' he said. Nevertheless, O'Neill says that the festival is struggling. 'We've had to launch a GoFundMe to try and secure next year, and that's not where we want to be,' he said. The Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon. He's calling on the Department of Culture to roll out a 'more transparent' funding model for grants, which he says would help to safeguard the future of smaller festivals . 'I know for the fact that there are festivals in the likes of Galway and Dublin that get more funding, despite the fact that they are bringing in the same number of people as us, and that's because of the city they are in. 'There is not a single TD or Senator who understands what it's like to organise an event like this in rural Ireland, and that's why I don't think there will be real change on this, but we need a more transparent funding model,' he said. Festivals in Ireland receive grants and support through local authorities, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland, and the Department of Culture's small scale local festivals and summer schools funding scheme, which allocates up to €5000 for not-for-profit local events. O'Neill says that requirements from state bodies around security, environmental concerns, and copyright fees from the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO). 'We're being charged by IMRO for the first time for 2024 and we're going through the process at the moment, I think it's something like 3% on each ticket. We support artists being paid, but all of these costs from state bodies add up, and the funding we receive doesn't balance them out,' he said. 'Suppliers want to be paid in advance' Craig Hughes is the founder of Night and Day Festival which has been staged in the Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon for the last four years, and is currently taking place this weekend, with headlining sets from folk legend Paul Brady, KT Tunstall, José Gonaléz and more (some last minute tickets are available here ). It has a capacity of 4,500 people. 'Costs are up around 20% from when we first started. That's insurance, but it's also the practical costs that rise each year with inflation,' he said. Hughes said that the uncertainty around larger festivals has impacted independent operators. Advertisement (Beyond The Pale, a major festival that has been taking place in Co Wicklow for years, said it 'almost stumbled' close to its opening day earlier this month, but it went ahead in the end thanks to financial help from an operator that stepped in.) 'Independent festivals are being asked to pay for everything upfront, including artist's fees in many cases, so it can create cash flow problems,' he said. Hughes added that the best way people can support smaller festivals is by buying their tickets early if they can. 'It gives us the ability to plan more, and more flexibility with booking acts. Thankfully, we've had great support since we've started, but across the industry people have noticed an increasing tendency for people to book late. 'Weather is a big factor for people, but we have three high top tents and most festivals have provisions in place,' he said. 'Micro-festivals are popping off' The Another Love Story festival takes place from August 23rd to 25th this year in Meath. celeste burdon celeste burdon Emmet Condon has been running the Another Love Story festival at Killyon Manor in Meath for the last two years. This year the festival has gone from a three-day to two-day event, which Condon said has helped with ticket sales. 'They've flown out the door this year. People want intimate to mean intimate, and they want less time commitment, so two days works for them,' he said. Condon is now running a pop-up 'Love is a Stranger' mirco-festivals that offer 24 hours of live music, with one having already taken place in Sligo back in May, and another planned for this Augus t in Ballyvolane, Cork, with a capacity of 500-700 people. 'The interest in those has been huge,' he said. Condon said that in the last ten years the Irish market has expanded massively. 'We're part of that, obviously, but as the major festivals get bigger, and this year the likes of Electric Picnic sold out in minutes, smaller festivals are getting squeezed out, and that's what we're seeing,' he said. 'Small festivals are increasingly on the breadline between ticket sales and what corporate sponsorship they can attract,' Condon added. He said that when he started out, ALS had to sell 60% of its tickets to break even. 'That's probably at 90% now. People see people getting together listening to music in a field and assume the organisers are driving away in a Porsche, that's just not the case,' Condon further said. He agrees with Barry O'Neill of Rory Fest that funding models need to change. 'There's good support there for small-scale community events, and the major festivals are flying it, but for smaller commercial festivals, they are caught between those two camps, and they are struggling,' he said. He argues that smaller festivals offer some of the best live music experiences people can have. 'You really do get to know everyone by the end of it. We have 2000 people coming this year, and many of them will come away with new friends. There's something special about it that just makes it different to a huge, commercially driven event,' he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Everything you need to know ahead of Night And Day Festival in County Roscommon
Founded by Mayo man and well-known Irish Daily Mail journalist Craig Hughes, the fourth annual Night and Day Festival will feature several well-known music acts and a variety of activities for all the family. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the festival: Where is it taking place? Night and Day takes place in Lough Key Forest Park, County Roscommon on 27-29 June. Who is playing? Headline acts include; KT Tunstall, The Stunning, Jose Gonzalez, Paul Brady, Lisa Hannigan, The Wailers, Sultans of Ping, Fionn Regan, Hermitage Green, Joshua Burnside, Efa O'Neill, Nialler9, Daithi, Skinner, DUG and many more. Apart from the music is there anything else going on? Yes, Night And Day have a full wellness schedule that ranges from hot tubs, saunas, yoga and reiki workshops. Festival-goers can also avail of exiting activities in Lough Key Forest Park like Is it family friendly? The festival is over 20s but under 14s can attend with an adult ticket holder. The festival has a full schedule of family friendly activities including kids yoga, circus skills, imagination playground, foraging for medicinal plants and much more. Are there tickets still available? Yes, weekend camping tickets (€195) as well as day tickets for Friday (€65), Saturday (€98) and Sunday (€98) are still on sale. Is there glamping? Yes, but you need to book in advance. Are there any campervan pitches remaining? No, they are sold out. How do I get there? Driving: Exit the N4 onto the L1019 which will bring you to the festival car park. General traffic does NOT enter through the main Lough Key Forest Park entrance. Train: You can get the train to either Boyle or Carrick-on-Shannon and get the shuttle bus (check timings) from designated locations. Bus: A shuttle bus from Boyle (King House) and Carrick on Shannon (Cryan's Hotel) is operating. Boat: The marina at Lough Key is open so you can arrive by boat if you wish. What type of food is there? French Fresh Crepes Master Food - burgers, hot dogs Bish Bosh - vegetarian / vegan (GF) Weirdough Pizza (GF option) La Tina Juanas - Latin American (GF option) Country Grill - Rotisserie Chicken dishes The Salt Project - Nomadic Food Prátaí - Gourmet Fries What drinks are on offer? Beer from The White Hag Brewery McIvor's Cider Spirits from Lough Ree Distillery Wine Brew point coffee Juice Genie Can I bring a foldable chair into the festival arena? Yes, but you can't have it inside the music tents after 6pm. Other essentials: Night and Day operates a cashless bar. Glass and pets are prohibited on site. Showers are in the main campervan and campsite, they are open in the morning only.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish festival announces saunas and cold-water plunges to help music fans unwind
Thousands of festival-goers are set to unwind in saunas and cold-water plunges at Night and Day Festival. The Roscommon-based festival announced a full wellness programme to take place across the weekend, which kicks off on June 27 until 29. Festival-goers will be able to unwind and recharge at Night and Day with an expansive offering of wellness activities. Commenting on the announcement of the wellness programme, Carla and Olivia said: "Thank you to Night & Day for giving us this opportunity to participate and help organise the Wellness area. It has been a great experience, and we can't wait for the festival weekend to see it all put together and meet everyone." Night and Day co-founder Craig Hughes said: "We have wanted to enhance our wellness offering for some time so it is great to see it come to fruition. "Festivalgoers will be able to unwind and recharge each morning before dancing into the early hours each night!" Perched on the embankment overlooking Lough Key, Lough Allen adventures will be running their hot tub, sauna and cold plunge sessions. Ce Sauna will operate on the opposite side of the lake in a more secluded part of the festival. On Saturday morning, the wellness schedule will consist of Pilates by Aisling Dolan, Quantum Riki and sound healing experience with Bailey Barbour, a partner yoga and massage workshop by West Coast Wellness, followed by an outdoor yoga session with Nicole O'Kelly. On Sunday morning, Roscommon native Oisin O'Dowd will host a breathwork session followed by Restore and Flow yoga with Nicole O'Kelly. Attendees are required to bring their own yoga mats with them. Radiant Spaces will curate a calming chill out area for festivalgoers to unwind inside while looking out overlooking the tranquil Lough Key. The programme has been curated by students of the BBus (Hons) Tourism & Event Management course at ATU Sligo Carla Taylor and Olivia Elis. Full details and booking information can be found here. Acts previously announced to play Night and Day include; José González, KT Tunstall, The Wailers, The Stunning, Lisa Hannigan, Paul Brady, Sultans of Ping, Adwaith, Fionn Regan, Daithi, Joshua Burnside, Bog Bodies, Yard, Dark Isle, DUG, Frank, Skinner, Harvest (A Tribute to Neil Young), Shark School and James Keegan. Festival-goers can also explore the beautiful grounds and campsite at Lough Key Forest Park. Families will also be able to avail of the on-site activities such as zip-lining courses, forest trails and a tree-top walk. Tickets for Night and Day are on sale now at for €185 for weekend adult camping tickets, with children's tickets costing €2. Day tickets are also on sale now; Friday (€55), Saturday (€88) and Sunday (€88).
Irish Independent
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Roscommon gears up for Lough Key's Night and Day Festival featuring music and relaxation
Home > Regionals > Roscommon > News Night and Day Festival returns to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in County Roscommon between June 27 and June 29 Lough Key, County Roscommon, will again be the venue for the Night and Day Festival in County Roscommon Headlined by artists like Paul Brady, The Wailers, The Stunning, Lisa Hannigan, Sultans of Ping, José González, KT Tunstall, Adwaith and Fionn Regan, the popular outdoor musical festival is set to draw large crowds to Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in County Roscommon between June 27 and June 29. Organised and co-founded by Mayo native Craig Hughes, Political Editor for the Irish Daily Mail, the festival is promoted as part of Roscommon's outdoor recreation campaign, 'Breathe in Roscommon'. The Night and Day Festival also offers a variety of family-friendly activities including dance workshops, kids' yoga, circus skills, nature foraging, ancient games and craft making. The festival has built a new wellness area near the Lough Key Forest and Activity Park that will host morning yoga classes, reiki sessions and saunas for attendees. 'This year we have really enhanced our wellness offering so festivalgoers can reconnect with nature in the morning while dancing to great music in the afternoon,' said festival co-founder, Craig Hughes. Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, which offers zip-lining courses, boat tours, kayaking, and forest trails, will remain open to the public during the festival. The inaugural Night and Day Festival took place in September 2022 at Clonalis House in Castlerea. It moved to its present venue in Lough Key Forest Park the following year. Roscommon Tourism Officer Lisa Joy said festival celebrates Roscommon's 'unique heritage, arts and culture as well as its scenic outdoor offerings that can be enjoyed by people of all ages'. 'We anticipate the Night and Day Festival to not just raise awareness about the county's forest trails and lakeside adventures but also inspire people to slow down, explore the landscapes and truly breathe in Roscommon,' Ms Joy added. The Night and Day Festival is an over-20s event but Children under 14 can attend once accompanied by a parent or guardian with a child's ticket. Camping options include a campsite with water stations and showers to ensure comfort throughout the weekend. For more information on activities and festival details, visit:
