2022
After two years of limited live events during the Covid pandemic, Carlow Arts Festival returned in 2022
We welcomed back audiences to a joyful festival of multi-disciplinary arts presented at our HQ in the grounds of Carlow College and at locations across Carlow town.
There was a real joy in getting back together in June and sharing in the collective experiences that we'd all missed.
2022’s programme was an eclectic mix of music, circus, dance, theatre, visual arts, and street art from home and abroad.
We presented new work by a number of Irish artists including Sinéad Cormack’s The Shed, Philip Connaughton’s No Control and Darragh McLoughlin’s For As Long As We Are Here.
We also brought exciting work from international artists to Carlow including Seeking Unicorns by Chiara Bersani, Clédat & Petitpierre’s The Bathers, and anonymous French street artist Ememem brought a touch of surrealism to Delta Sensory Gardens with his beautiful mosaic designs.
Music fans enjoyed an expanded line-up of shows. The O'Hara's Quarter hosted Tolü Makay, Wyvern Lingo and Malaki and there was a special homecoming performance from Ye Vagabonds in VISUAL. We also partnered with Carlow Live & Local to present three days of the best local talent, including Jerry Fish, Shane Hennessy and a host of rising stars.
Cruinniú na nÓg, Ireland's day of creativity for children and young people coincided with the festival on Saturday 11 June so we had a programme of free performances and workshops for kids and families across the weekend. The highlight was our first Carlow Carnival of Collective Joy, planned, delivered and performed in partnership with the children of Carlow.
