'A celebration of what a small place can create': Ballydehob Jazz Festival fills streets with craic agus ceol
The Ballydehob Jazz Festival celebrated 20 years this weekend. Picture: Joe Chapman.
Ballydehob came alive with a lineup of global talent, homegrown creativity, and community spirit this weekend, marking the 20th edition of the Ballydehob Jazz Festival.
The festival, which celebrates its final day today, welcomed local and international talent to Ballydehob across the weekend, including Spanish singer, guitarist and composer Lau Noah, Irish trombonist and composer Paul Dunlea, composer Benji Bower, pianist Stephanie Nilles, multi-instrumentalist Thomas Deakin, and Blue Mocking Birds.
The festival's much-loved Jazz Parade also returned this year, filling the village streets with music, movement and vibrant street theatre.
Locals and visitors gathered in their thousands on Sunday to enjoy a procession of giant puppets, costumed performers, live musicians and community groups.
Speaking about the atmosphere around the town, Caroline O’Donnell of Ballydehob Jazz Festival and Levis Corner House, said: “Wow -what a community. Today’s parade marked 20 years of the Ballydehob Jazz Festival - two decades of a village building something extraordinary together.
"Run by over 100 volunteers, shaped by artists, musicians and makers from near and far, it’s a festival powered by creativity, generosity and community spirit.
"A special thread through it all - the puppet family of Katrina, Diego and Nacho, hand-built and brought to life by artists Fiona Walsh, Dr Dink, Kathy Crockett and Elaine McCague, with many helping hands from Ballydehob.
"But more than anything, this is a celebration of what a small place can create, year after year."
The festival's Live Music Trail will continue to take place across the village today, featuring performances by Irish and international acts.
