From barn dancing to theatre: Comeraghs Wild Festival to see drama, music and sea activities

Four days of drama, music, sea activities, and more are on the agenda this month in one of the country’s most rugged regions.

Mahon Falls and the stunning Comeragh Mountains will be the venue for the four-day Comeraghs Wild Festival starting on Thursday week, September 15, and showcasing a majestic but often forgotten region.

This year’s programme, supported by Waterford City and County Council, includes live music, history, open-air theatre, storytelling and even a barn dance which is making its festival debut.

Chairwoman of the organising committee, Mary Flynn, said it promised to be a very special festival and encouraged people to support the many events.

We're on @billydeiseam at 11.40am chatting about the Festival and FREE dancing classes ahead of our barn dance pic.twitter.com/8hfFt6j7BZ

— Comeraghs Wild (@ComeraghsWild) August 31, 2016

“We’ve focused all of the events this year in and around the mountains and have added new elements such as the ‘Coming Round the Mountain’ barn dance on the Saturday night; beach art being made with the help of a marching band on the Sunday morning; sea kayaking with SeaPaddling.com and a concert on the final night with Voice of Ireland star, Moylan Brunnock.”

The festival opens with Craic in the Comeraghs — Witty, Wise and Wonderful. This is an intimate night of stories, music, and fun at Nell’s Farmhouse, Rathgormack, with renowned historian, writer, and broadcaster Julian Walton on Thursday, September 15.

Events on the second day include The Play on the Mountain at Mahon Falls. ‘Curse’ is presented by the Bag-a-Cats Theatre Company.

Comeraghs Wild Festival coming up folks! https://t.co/5e1uwhewSj Always something on in #Waterford pic.twitter.com/ukvKM4B1bB

— Waterford In Your Pocket (@WaterfordPocket) August 31, 2016

The Comeraghs Wild programme on the Saturday also includes Walk on the Wild Side with photographer Paddy Dwan, as well as sea kayaking and the Barn Dance with Trevor Smith and his eight-piece band, Friends in Low Places — The No 1 Garth Brooks Experience, followed by DJ John O’Shea.

The Festival for 2016 wraps up on Sunday, September 18, with more sea kayaking, beach art at Bunmahon with The Art Hand and the City of Waterford Brass Band and the grand finale, a concert with Moylan Brunnock from the Voice of Ireland.