Welcome to the Phoenix Arts Festival
Family, Visual Arts, Performance & Fire
Successtival
Community Arts is alive in the Midlands.
Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th May 2010
The Phoenix Arts Festival 2010 celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Great Balloon Fire with an action packed festival programme of free family entertainment, visual arts, performance and fire.
The 10th year of the festival proved to be the most successful to date with the weather bringing out families to the festival's new centralised location of the splendid Lloyd Town Park. Visitors and organisers alike agreed the town park proved to be the best place to host the wide selection of free events for the community. 'The community responded amazingly to the festival in the final days leading up to the weekend, with people from all walks of life pulling together and getting the final preparations in order', said Loughnan Hooper, Festival Chairperson. 'Community spirit and bringing people together for the common goal of making our town a better place to live is what the Phoenix is all about and this weekend the community came together on so many different ways.
The response from the public was uplifting as families enjoyed the various activities all day Saturday and Sunday. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere was warmed by the early summer sunshine as artists began sketching out the designs for the Cubism Exhibition from early Saturday morning. The Skate Park witnessed skate boarders from around the country, displaying their extreme skills with Cormac Lally, Skate Jam organiser supreme, who presented Michael Fitzpatrick with the under 17's trophy and Gavin Coughlan with the Senior trophy. Early afternoon, the Taoiseach took a break from all things politic and took a relaxing stroll through the park chatting, joking and taking photos with the early arrivers. He chatted with artists involved in the Cubism Exhibition discussing the design process and types of paints and materials being used, before trying his hand at Juggling clubs, a discipline which takes a long time to learn and practice makes perfect, but which he was not afraid to try his hand at with considerable success. 'This is a fabulous amenity and we should be making even more use of it with events such as this,' commented the Taoiseach, as he strolled past the splashing fountains in the glorious sunshine, making his way to the pulsating sound coming from the Skate Park. He chatted with the members of the resident park Bowls Club as they put up some shade to protect themselves from the blazing sun and they rolled out their jack and started to play.
The park looked immaculate thanks to the dedicated ground staff of John Halloran and Damien Bryant, as the crowds began to gather for the Gombeen Show, with 2 crazy characters who ended their show by showering in honey and a coating of feathers. The Balloon sculptures dotted around the park, that took painstaking days to make in the Phoenix Studios all week and put in place Saturday morning were being pulled asunder and burst by overzealous kids. ‘Well we now know more than ever how difficult it is to keep kids away from balloons’, commented Margaret Naughton, local Balloon modeler,’ It was interesting to see the demand for the balloon shapes and their natural instinct to want to touch and interact with the larger balloon shapes.’ Kids interacted in their own inimitable way by pulling and tearing them asunder. If they knew how long it took to make maybe their actions would have been less destructive. They started out as latex and are now are returned to latex, that’s Art in itself.’ The Cubism paintings began to take form as the Jugglers workshops took place around the Big Top. Acoustic tunes from local artists drifted from the Phoenix Rising stage through the packed playground down to the large flat green area where families picnicked amidst the juggling and various side shows waiting for the live bands to set up. Sound checks complete, the cinema was transformed into a cinema for the screening of ‘Out of Tune’ a film produced by local creator Paddy Slattery. Some of the actors in the film were members of the first band up ‘Whatever Jones’, whose up tempo rock got the crowd on their feet, followed by rising singer songwriter, Wayne Brennan. Hogan nearly lifted the roof of the Big Top with a rip roaring set in their own inimitable style with a fantastic light and sound show put together by Darren Cahill.
As the Big Top finished, the fire show lit up, with the Red Embers producing an almost spiritual fire dance performance enjoyed by a large appreciative crowd gathered in wide semi circle. Fire Poise, a fire collective from around the country and further afield continued to enthrall the crowds, with the water feature providing an atmospheric backdrop. Three fire shapes burned furiously before torch bearers lead the crowd to Srah Castle for the spectacular fireworks display that lit up the night sky with teasing rockets, building to an amazing crescendo of colourful explosions.
Sunday morning dawned and the team put the finishing touches to the park and the crowds began to stream into the park from lunchtime onwards. The clouds overhead kept the need for layers of sun cream at bay but the ice cream, slush puppies and coffee flowed from local stores setup for the weekend
The park was a hive of activity, with the Gombeens squirting honey and the Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society presenting ‘Talk in the Park’. The jugglers entertained with a selection of carnival games and the dance workshops were well attended.
The Oscar nominated, Secret of Kells, began in the Big top while the queue for facepainting began to grow and the balloons disappeared as quick as they were been twisted into animals. The Treasure trail proved popular as they scouted around the park for answers, meanwhile the street performer busking festival kicked off with Brian O’Connell from Dublin taking the honours.
The Laughing Stock comedy club, slapstick political satire where the public could take their frustrations out on public figures with wet sponges who were placed in medieval stocks.
The festival was nearing completion as in the late evening a hot air balloon could be seen drifting over the centre of town, to the excellent sounds of the The Whisht in the Big Top to be followed by electronic maestro Darren Joseph.
The Phoenix Festival would like ot thanks its main sponsors for their continued support. Tullamore town Council, Failte Ireland, Dotser Website Specialists, Offaly County Council, Midlands 103, Walsh Brothers, Tullamore Court Hotel, Bridge House, Stage Craft Ireland, McDonal International, Tullamore Credit Union, Inverine Plc, Bridge Centre, Loughreys, Offaly Good Vibrations, Tullamore Sound Centre, Sennheiser, Charleville Heritage Trust.
PATRONS OF THE PHOENIX
AM to PM, Angelo’s Take Away, Bathroom & Accessories Spollen Sales,Brendan Milne Accountant, Byrne Casey & Associates, Crunch Retail, Farm TV, FBD Insurance, Finlay Brothers, Galvin for Men, Giggles Fancy Dress Hire, Hire Depot, JA Lumley & Co., Lumcloon Energy, Macari’s Take Away & Cafe, O’Donohues Bakery, Paddy Power, P.J. Grennan’s Quality Foods, Scally’s Centra Arden, Sennheiser, Supermac’s, Swan’s Store, Tullamore Hardware,The Red Shop, Yaadgaar Indian Restaurant.
FRIENDS OF THE PHOENIX
3D Kitchens & Wardrobes, A Fashion, Adams Healthcare, Aphrodite Beauty Salon, Aura Leisure Centre Tullamore, Barony House, BDH Heating & Bathrooms, Becarra, Bennies Flowers Boutique, Blazing Bargains, Brian Adams Solicitors, Bridge Stores, Brookside Guesthouse, C.& Q.E.M.S., Cafe India, Cahill Jewellers, Canton Regent, Car Parts, Carragher’s Pharmacy, Centra Henry Street, Clonminch Pharmacy, Coldwell Banker Kelly & Co., Colgan Sports & Golf, Deverell’s Farm, Factory Direct, Dolan’s Gala Supermarket, Dolan’s Pharmacy, Douglas Jewellers, Doyles Gala, Eclipse Hair Salon, Field Financial Services Limited, Fox’s Grocery, G&T Drapery, Gladys Fashion, Graphic Index, Grennans Country House, Grooms Barbershop, Hairy Babies, HAMCO, Hawthorn Lodge, Hinch Joinery Works, Hoey & Denning Solicitors, Irish Nationwide Building Society, J&M Office Supplies, Jamie’s Restaurant, Joe O’Sullivan Photography, K Flowers, KFC, Kit Your Kitchen, Liam McGuinness Macs Cabs, Life 4 Less, Littlewood B&B, Lulu Belle’s, McDonalds Restaurant, McGowan Insurance, Menarys, Mezzo, Midland Framing, Midland Letting, Midland Property Letting, Midland Veterinary, Mother Earth, Mr.Shoe Shoe Repairs, New Image, Orla Gleeson & Associates, P.J. Lynam Power Tools, Paddy Field, Permanent TSB, Raymond Allen & Co., Re-charge Cartridges, Ritzys Hairdressing, Roma Grill, Ryans Midland Books, Seamus Rigney & Co., Shalom Wears, Sirocco’s Restaurant, Dr. Anthony Keane Surgery, Tasty Take Away, The Retreat, Tormey’s Butchers, Troy Take Away, Tullamore Carpets, Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, Tullamore Omniplex, Vegas & V2 Body Piercing Studio.
Thanks to Stewart Russell for Accounting and Auditing Services, Scoil Bhride for Car parking facilities and Inverine Plc. for the use of the Phoenix Studios. This year more than ever the festival relied on the huge support of the community and thanks to those who helped out with final preparations.
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE 2010.
Loughnan Hooper, Chairperson; Maríosa Hume, Vice Chairperson; Ciara Kinnarney,Treasurer/Administrator; Ger Scully, PRO; Margaret Naughton, Arts; Cormac Lally, Skate Jam; Johnny Keenan, Music; Rev. William Hayes, Film; Barry Lacomber, Fundraising; John Pender, Cubism; Joe O’Connor, Health & Safety, and team of Phoenix volunteers, Maura Cunningham, Pat Mulpeter, Eoghan Hynes, Aoife Kinnarney, Mark Quinlan, Brendan and Annemarie Daly, Dave Plunkett, Renee Finaly, Kathleen O'Brien, Keiran Camon, Micheal Hannon, Natasha Troy, Cllr. Brendan Killeavy, Noleen Flanagan, Stanislava Velcheva, Sue Cody, Anthony O'Connor, Darren Lynch, Catherine Kinnarney, Angela Naughton, Fionnola Corrigan, Clodagh Naughton, Marina O'Malley, Timothy Green, Noel Lally, Kay Cullen, Ken Hume, John Hume, Ursula, David McEliglott, Damien, David Mills and anyone else who helped in any way.
Thanks to Ruth McNally, Paul Devaney and Joe Larkin of the Tullamore Town Council and to the help from the park keepers John Halloran, Damien Bryant and Jimmy O'Brien.
Special thanks to the Garda, Civil Defence and Emergency Services for their continued support.
Tullamore’s central location brings together a unique mix of people and ideas to celebrate our unique history through colourful street spectacles, live music, and extreme events in a colourful friendly festival atmosphere.
Tullamore celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Great Hot Air Balloon Fire which ultimately led to the rejuvenation of the town's fortunes, rising from the ashes and becoming a central role in the Midland’s economy. The events which unfolded on May 10th 1785 are widely recognised as the World’s first aviation disaster, when a hot air balloon crashed and the resultant fire caused the destruction of over 100 houses.
The Phoenix Arts Festival 2010 was the 10th year of an evolving annual programme of colourful spectacles, creativity and family events which this year is centred in the spacious surrounds of the excellent Tullamore Lloyd Town Park amenity.
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Phoenix Festival Office
Phoenix Studios,
Old Texas Department Building,
Texas Car Park,
Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland.
Tel: 057 93 60900
Email: info@phoenixfestival.ie
