Festival of Fires not happening in 2013
**FESTIVAL OF THE FIRES IS NOT TAKING PLACE IN 2013**
Due to agricultural and archaeological reasons, the organizers of Festival of the Fires have decided to take a year off this year to allow the venue of the iconic festival, the historic Hill of Uisneach, time to recover.
The Hill of Uisneach is a sacred site of supreme national importance, and she needs a year off, particularly after a year of bad weather. Festival of the Fires, a rekindling of Ireland’s oldest known festival reborn to great international acclaim in 2009, will return in 2014.
To keep the flame burning in 2013 and to celebrate the year of ‘The Gathering’, the people behind Festival of the Fires, supported by Westmeath County Council and the Irish Public Bodies Insurance, are to host a May Bank Holiday weekend gathering in the shadow of Uisneach
This boutique music festival in a bespoke festival area close to the Uisneach Inn Bar and Restaurant, Ireland’s most central venue.
For the Bealtaine, May Bank Holiday weekend, a host of massive musical names will take to the stage at an event which will feature many of the elements that made Festival of the Fires Ireland’s most iconic event – arts and crafts, family entertainment, fire ceremonies, re-enactments, history and heritage, spoken word, family fun, local food and drink and more besides.
Music on Saturday May 4th will be headlined by Ireland’s hottest live act, THE ORIGINAL RUDE BOYS who are currently touring the world with The Script. Also playing will be RUBBER BANDITS, the brilliant comedy due from Limerick who are hot property in the UK at the moment following their own Channe 4 tv show. Also appearing are The Raglans, Fox E & The Good Hands, The Bionic Rats, Radioactive Grandma, Glimmermen, Radio Room, Just No, Tullamore Rymers Club and many, many more.
On Sunday May 5th we welcome three of the biggest and best Irish acts back to the centre of Ireland: the incredible RYAN SHERIDAN, the amazing KILA and, fresh from news that they are to support the Rolling Stones in the UK, THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT. These are three of the best acts you’ll see, and to see them on one stage over one night is not to be missed. Also playing are two of Ireland’s greatest ever reggae acts, THE BARLEY MOB and IRIE-LAND. They will be joined by The Driftwood Manor, Cronin, Mojo Gogo, Gavin Ghee, Late City Edition and many more.
Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and from the venue – THE UISNEACH INN BAR & RESTAURANT. They are preiced €25 per day, or €40 for the weekend. A small number of weekend with camping tickets are available at €50 each.
Please note there will be no public access to the Hill of Uisneach over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
A limited number of car parking spaces are available. Please use bus services from Mullingar, Athlone and Tullamore.
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