Abbeyfolk, Bollywood and Timahoe Male Choir to star at Laois Festival of the Mountain
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There’s a big buzz about the oldest community festival in Laois this year, thanks to an unexpected state grant for extra performers
It’s the third year of the rebooted Festival of the Mountain and Vintage Rally this Sunday, August 16 and thanks to an unexpected big cash grant, it’s the biggest and most international yet.
Established in 1962, the festival on the northern hillside of the Slieve Bloom Mountains has traditional field day favourites like Queen of the Mountain and ‘guess the weight of the bullock’.
However this year there is Bollywood dancing, world drumming, Ukrainian and hip hop music, along with the Timahoe Male Choir and Abbeyfolk and other acts on a new big stage.
The extra music boost is thanks to a successful application for a €5,000 grant from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
Co-ordinator Daniel McDonald spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
“It’s intense here, we are busy with preparations since we were awarded the grant, we only found out we were getting it a few weeks ago, and had to scramble to book artists,” he said.
He is cautious about predicting crowd numbers.
“It’s weather dependent but we’re expecting 1,000 to 1,500 visitors, we had 2,000 last year. We extended the site so there’s plenty of parking. We get people who came as children and are now returning home especially to bring their own children” he said.
“There is a more multicultural feel, we hope people come and enjoy that international flavour,” he said.
The local volunteer support is “crucial”.
“Without that we wouldn’t have a festival,” Daniel said.
The village of Rosenallis has had a big glow up this year, with the opening of the Village Tap and repainting of buildings by volunteers.
“It’s looking great, we love when people drive through and see all our progress. Rosenallis has evolved and so has our festival, it has a more multicultural feel, it’s great, we are looking forward to welcoming everyone from near and far,” Daniel said.
The Rosenallis Festival of the Mountain & Vintage Rally takes palce on Sunday, August 16 starting at 12 noon at Glenbarrow, Rosenallis, a short drive from the village.
Special guests are the Team RNS Robotics from Rosenallis National School, winners of the Engineering Division Judges Award at the VEX IQ Robotics World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, who will perform a live robotics demonstration.
There will be a Bollywood Dance performance and workshop open to all.
Well known artist Lynn Kirkham will create a live public sculpture piece entitled Guardian of the Mountain on-site during the festival.
Beats of Tullamore Dancers, a group of nurses from Portlaoise and Tullamore hospitals, will dance on stage as will Mohana Natarajan, a classical Bharatanatyam dancer and high energy Jump Street Dancers, and belly dancers The Red Embers & Guests.
Bringing music and fun are The Timahoe Male Choir, folk favorites Abbeyfolk, acoustic duo The O'Neil Sisters, Ukrainian vocalist and bandura player Tetiana Herasymova, hip-hop artist Bubble Lock, with interactive drumming with Jabba Jabba Jembe.
There will be also be loads of hot food stalls, sweet treats, and great coffee.
Traditional attractions include vintage displays, tug of war, Queen of the Mountain and other competitions, a dog show, children's amusements, archery, obstacle course competitions, and face painting.
Admission: €10 (Cash only), under 12s go free.