Lucan Festival 2011 is finally here (19th – 25th September, 2011) in Lucan Village, this year’s festival is bigger and better this year with events, acts and performances for the kids, adults and the young at heart. These will take place all week leading up to the Festival weekend which expects to attract over 5,000 people to Lucan Village on Sunday 25th September for the Festival Family Day when the Lucan Village will be closed from 11am -7pm. To view the full programme click here
The Festival week will be launched on Monday 19th September at 7.30pm with the opening of the Art Exhibition (former Gunne offices) by Mayor Caitriona Jones and followed by a poetry evening (tbc). The exhibition sponsored by CBRE showcases the work of local artists and runs for the duration of the Festival. For the rest of the week locals and visitors alike can look forward to Lucan Historical walks, two15 minute excerpts of fun and frolicks courtesy of Lucan Dramatic Society of “15 Moll” and Hamlet like you have never seen him before, “Young at Heart” Tea Dance at the Spa Hotel on Wednesday 4-7pm admission €5.
How will Lucan exists as society in 2050? then get along to a talk on Lucan forward to 2050 in Finnstown House also on Wednesday evening and here some interesting debate. An evening with Sean Carabini at Lucan Library at 7pm, a wide variety of activities for kids and older to be held in Lucan Library details of which can be found on the Festival website. Talks by Aspen Counselling through the week at their Main Street office.
The Cinemobile (100 seater mobile cinema) will round up the week day activities with Spy Kids 4 at 3.30pm and a “Ladies Night” showing Bridesmaids on Friday night (booking essential contact Tom on 0862505665). At the same time Megabites, will be starting the weekend off with a bang with a gig for local bands at the Griffeen Youth Centre (over 15’s).
The weekend starts off for the kids with a treasure hunt on Saturday morning (11am) for the young explorers among us, more screenings at the Cinemobile starting at 1pm with Harry Potter and the ‘Deathly Hallows 2’ followed by ‘Super 8’ and the feature film ‘The Guard’ staring Brendan Gleeson. Meanwhile at the Art Exhibition Centre see Artist Eolaigan Fheile create a painting over the course of the weekend. The Historic Exhibition will be back again as well, laying out Lucan’s history in over 150 exhibits including photos and artifacts. In addition Lucan Sarsfield will be having their Family Day, A Saturday Night Fever 70’s Disco in the Spa Hotel in aid of Aspen Counseling tickets are €10.
The climax of the Festival will be Festival Family Day on Sunday, 25th September with street closure through Lucan Village this year there will be more than ever to keep everyone entertained. For music lovers there will be a new Village Stage showcasing a wide variety of musical tastes featuring local, bands others from further afield including the Riptide Movement (recently supported Bon Jovi), The Ghandis, Morgan La Fey, Adela and the Meanits, Half Shot, rap artist Prince4God, Sophie Coyle, and Lorcan James. On the Main Street Stage we will have Madra, Dancity Ireland, Lee Byrne Dancers, Heart Strings a number of intercultural acts including Hip hop dancers Liffey Valley Homework Group, a traditional Nigerian folk dance group, traditional Polish dancers and singers and an amazing Italian singer – Rosaria. Nathalie Moyano Gonzálezare will be giving Flamenco workshops a unique opportunity for participants will find out that marking the rhythm with the foot and clapping along is a lot of fun. The Garda open day will also take place on the Sunday and always proves very popular, with a concert by the Garda Band between 2 – 4pm.
Of course the Reptile Zoo, Punch and Judy, local dance acts, will be back again along with the bouncy castles, Street markets, Craft demonstrations, A Coral event at St Andrews, face painters and street entertainers for the kids. There will also be pony rides, a duck race in the Grifeen. Headspace, will also have a mixed media exhibition and workshop taking place on Sunday at the exhibition Centre.
Tom Dowling, Secretary, Lucan Festival Committee commented, “I would like to thank all our patrons for their generous financial support and general good will, which has enabled us grow the festival this year. There is so much to see throughout this year’s festival and I hope you can come along and enjoy the many events programmed over Festival week.”
Seán Carabini is a Dublin-based writer and author of the humorous travel memoirs, Sticking Out in Minnesota: A Dubliner’s Journey. Seán’s newest book, American Road, is a travel memoir about the iconic American Road Trip. Take a seat in the back of the car as Seán and his partner traverse the American Interstate system from Las Vegas to New York City as Seán attempts to avoid being gored by buffalo in Yellowstone, accidentally dresses as a ranger at the Grand Canyon, and discovers what Freedom really is in America.
