Arts festival reaches fever pitch in Skibb

‘Oh what a night' – is a line from a song, but it also encapsulates the success of last week's Friday Night Fever event – the outdoor disco organised by Skibbereen Arts Festival.

Festival chairman Brendan McCarthy said it was gratifying to hear so many people say what a wonderful time they had at the 70s street party. ‘That is what our 10-day festival is all about,' he added.

‘It's not every day you can have a multi-generational disco that involves half the town dressing up in funny clothes and dancing on the street side-by-side with their children. 

‘Different people have been enjoying different things,' said Brendan, who commented on the mesmerising quality of The Creation of Ireland performance at the Town Hall on Monday night, featuring words and music by Lorcán Mac Mathúna, as well the utterly compelling Gamelan performance, using Indonesian instruments, at the Cope building – an event that also featured top guest performers, such as Ger Wolfe.

There are, however, more events to look forward to including a special performance of Gregorian Chant and Sacred Song by Noirín Ní Riain at Abbeystrewry Church on Thursday, August 3rd, and a sell-out performance by Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Friday night.