A Look Back at Kilkenny Arts Festival

With a whole host of Irish and European premieres, new and developing work has once again been at the core of the programme, from INO’s production of Emma O’Halloran’s Trade/Mary Motorhead, to the Irish premiere of Johann Johannsson’s Drone Mass from Chamber Choir Ireland and Crash Ensemble, and including new work from Errolyn Wallen, Rough Magic and Peter Hanley, Paul Muldoon, Caimin Gilmore, Niall Vallely, Brú Theatre and Branar Theatre,

The city itself has been the backdrop of some extraordinary events including the spectacular Light Up the Castle – a site-specific installation showing Kilkenny Castle in a mesmerizing new light, while some of the city’s beautiful outdoor spaces have hosted collaborations between visiting Festival artists in the hugely popular Secret Garden Music Series. Collaborations between visiting artists have also been a mainstay in this year’s Marble City Sessions co-curated by Martin Hayes, with special guest appearances a common feature in many of the concerts.

Olga Barry said, ‘it is enriching to be surrounded by such a wellspring of creativity for these 11 days in Kilkenny each August – it has as much to do with the mission all year round – to embrace and encourage ideas and experiments, to take that leap with artists. Work is often dreamt up around the edges of the Festival, and is nurtured into being in the following years. We’re thrilled that our fantastic audiences took that leap with us once again, and joined us for some truly mesmeric moments in the Marble City’.

The Festival expresses it’s huge gratitude to all involved in putting on the 2024 edition fo the Festival, including our wonderful artists, the tens of thousands of audience members who joined us again this year, our dedicated staff and crew, our Board, our generous sponsors, partners and funders, and in particular, to the large cohort of incredible volunteers who joined us this year.

Kilkenny Arts Festival is proudly supported by the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland and Kilkenny County Council.