Carlow Arts Festival Éigse
Carlow Arts Festival Éigse is an annual multi-disciplinary festival in the south east of Ireland showcasing a diverse range of arts and cultural events over 10 days each June. The festival displays a vibrant programme of events featuring a dynamic range of entertainment and arts and transforms Carlow into a cultural hub of the South East. The festival has something for every member of the family to enjoy, Éigse is an extravaganza with broad appeal. Come and be part of Éigse Carlow Arts Festival, promoting cultural diversity, community spirit and establishing Carlow as a centre of artistic excellence.
The 2010 festival won Best Tourism and Leisure Award at the Carlow Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in March 2011 and was nominated for various awards at the Irish Festival Awards 2010.
History of Éigse Carlow Arts Festival
Éigse Carlow Arts Festival was founded in 1979 by six members; Fr. Caoimhín Ó Néill, Pádraig Ó Snodaigh, Deirdre Brennan, Bríde de Róiste, Séamus Mac Páirc and Séamus Murphy. The founding members chose the word Éigse for the festival name, the plural of ‘Éigeas’ which is the Irish for poetry gathering. They chose this word because they wanted the festival to have a strong focus on poetry and the Irish language whilst still including those who could not speak Irish. It was planned as a bi-lingual festival with a simple programme of events; an art exhibition featuring the Barrow Valley Artists and Idrone Painters Group in the Town Hall, local history lectures, poetry, walks in Carlow and Céilí na nÓg. There was a great response to the festival and the founder members recognised that this event was a celebration of Carlow and would foster great pride in the area. What was once a local endeavor and a simple weekend event in April 1979 grew to become Ireland’s fourth largest Arts festival and a credit to both the founders and the region.
2013 Festival Team
Director: Hugo Jellett
Administrator: Lisa Nolan
Festival Assistants: Elaine Stafford, Ann-Louise O’Neill, Mary Connolly and Theresa Gorman
Marketing & PR: Joan Crowley
Accountants: Harney Nolan Business Advisors
Éigse welcomes all volunteers and if you wish to become involved this year we would love to hear from you on +353 (0)59 9172439. Have a look at the volunteer positions and see if you’d be interested in giving your time to the festival. We value and appreciate all festival volunteers. We cannot run the festival without you!