Cloughtoberfest Puts a Swing in Your Step This Weekend
The October Bank Holiday weekend has become a popular slot for festivals and events, and looking at the Discover Ireland calendar, you could really be spoilt for choice. Why not keep things simple, and local? “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” this weekend and take a trip to Cloughtoberfest, Ireland’s one and only festival of Gypsy Jazz and swing music in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary.
The festival gets going on Friday 26th with a free acoustic concert from Transition Swing at Sheelagh-na-gig Bookshop, and jam 
sessions late into the evening. Things really hot up on Saturday 27th, with a full programme of guitar, violin, dance and voice master-classes and a Craft Beer garden open all day at the Railway Bar offering a selection of Ireland’s finest beers, home-brew equipment and advice, a delicious barbeque and live music. Concerts begin at 4pm, with 3 concerts up to 10pm, and a full-day pass will admit you to all 3 concerts for just €25. Performers include world-renowned violinist Tim Kliphuis, Dutch Sinti guitarist Paulus Schafer, Robin Nolan, Ian Date and Samuel C. Lees.
Sunday is a family day, with refreshments and face-painting for children in the Craft Beer garden, a kids musical instrument making workshop, dance classes for 5-15 year-olds from Galway swing, and cider making for the grown-ups. The Family Gala Concert starts at 4pm and costs just €5 per adult, with accompanying children admitted free of charge.
Round off the weekend with a swinging Halloween party on Sunday night, and some relaxing free acoustic sessions on Monday, and you’ll have had a holiday weekend to beat them all!
Tickets are limited, so visit www.cloughtoberfest.com to book yours and to see even more programme details.
