Music Fest 2023
Saturday 24 th June 2023 in Macroom will be remembered for all the right reasons. 45 years to the very day since Rory Gallagher play in the Mountain Dew Festival in 1978, that’s when Macroom last rocked to an open air livemusic concert. Macroom knew the best way to celebrate the opening of the N22 Bypass and getting our town back was to host the Macroom Music Fest 2023, and what a fantastic weekend it was with something there for everyone.
Once the Festival buntings went up many of the local businesses came on board by dressing their windows with the music theme, letting everyone know the town was ready to rock.
Mundy on stage
On Friday night the Band Trail in all the pubs got the town in the mood, young and old where out and about, music of types could be heard all over town, this was another first in the weekend’s schedule of events.
The concert held in the towns’ square on Saturday evening was the highlight. The weather was drizzly up to 5.30pm when the gates opened, after that the skies cleared and rain stayed away for the rest of the night this made for a very pleasant atmosphere, and no poncho sales!
Plenty seating was available for those taking a break in between dancing, lots of food outlets on site made sure no one was hungry, and the Heineken Bar tent staff managed the queues really well.
Sarah Hickey was first up a lovely blend of music and kept the early concert goers entertained.
Sarah Hickey opening the night
Next on stage Mundy dressed in his trademark Cowboy Hat and denim attire quickly had the crowd rocking and when he sang the “Galway Girl” the stage banter and crowd interaction was brilliant.
Riptide Movement from Dublin up next they opened with “Something Special” how apt for the night it was, and from that on had the crowd on song. They gave it everything you could see they were enjoying the experience just as much as those in the crowd everyone waving and dancing and just having a ball.
Frank & Walters were the closing act, by now the large crowd of concert goers were in full voice throughout and when well-known intro for “After All I Really Love You” started the place went electric. Young and old swinging and singing in the square was a fantastic sight to see, making all the efforts to present this festival all the worthwhile.
Chatting to Jerry from the Riptide Movement on his walk around the town on Sunday morning, he said it was “the best event they have played at in recent times”. They were “hugely complimentary on the running of the event, the location was spectacular along with the stage set up, the lightening & acoustics all superb, and of course they joined in the after parties in the pubs, and they definitely want to come back to Macroom next year”!
Riptide Movement rocking their set
To finish off the weekend on Sunday the Lions Club held a very well run family day in the GAA grounds and with all the clubs in town working together making for a really successful weekend.
Lee Valley Enterprise Board will thank everyone in due course, however the Macroom Music Fest 2023 would not have happened but for the foresight of some our Lee Valley Board members led by Killian Lynch who believed this was all possible, putting their shoulders to the wheel to get the job done. The support received from the businesses and residents of the town centre was much appreciated in allowing the concert to take place in the square. Thank you to our sponsors Macroom Municipal District Council, Heineken, and IRD Duhallow. Volunteers from the local businesses, Martin Coughlan and the Tidy Towns, and everyone else that lent a hand. Roll on the Macroom Music Fest 2024.
