Oliver Plunketts GAA pro Lisa Collins tells us about the festival taking place this weekend
When did the festival start?
Ahiohill Music Festival has been running since 2013, with a brief hiatus for Covid. The end of September event has gone from strength to strength since its inception 11 years ago. In fact, the Covid break almost gave the festival new resurgence, the last two festivals being our biggest yet.
What started with a one-night festival has grown into a two-night bumper event, with six acts performing over the weekend, Friday and Saturday. The music festival is the brainchild of St Oliver Plunketts GAA Club, particularly its club treasurer Jim O’Sullivan, who still is the main driver behind its evolution. Most of the same core committee have been in place I think we know our audience and what works, to put on a good festival and make money for the community! Over the years the festival has seen both local and nationally renowned artists from Limerick’s Hermitage Green, to the Kilkennys, The Blizzards, Pa Fitz, Tradstone to name but a few.
What’s it in aid of?
The music festival when it was first ran in 2013 was for St. Oliver Plunkett’s GAA Club. Over the last 10 years, Oliver Plunkett’s grounds have developed into a place for the whole community to utilise and enjoy. The enhancement of the grounds is a direct result of the monies made from AMF. St Oliver Plunkett’s facilities are used today by sporting bodies including indoor soccer, camogie, ladies’ football, Mothers and Others, pilates, fitness classes as well as walking groups and running groups. It is a place for the whole community. Everyone who uses the grounds in anyway, the walkways, the hall, the gym, meeting room, pitches etc will benefit from the funds raised.
Tell us some of the acts playing this year
The line-up for Ahiohill Music Festival 2024, may be our best yet. Keen to also support local acts, we will kick off both nights with a local artist. We are delighted to secure two artists killing it on the music scene: Niamh Desmond Collins, and Andrew Whelton, who just released his debut single this week.
The Gallivanters, from Kerry, will take to the main stage at 9pm. We are really excited to have these Kerry natives down in West Cork. We are really thrilled to manage to secure them for Ahiohill this year. Playing a mix of trad with elements of folk and pop, the energy these lads can bring to the stage, will guarantee for a great night.
Following on from the Gallivanters, nationally renowned DJ Marty Guilfoyle will take to the decks at 11pm to close out night one. For night two, Andrew Whelton takes to the stage from 7.30pm. No doubt his new single, released just last weekend, will be part of his set! Taking to the main stage at 9pm will be crowd pleasers and fellow Cork men, The Buachaills, who will have the hall rocking with mix of trad and folk. Headlining night two, and closing out Ahiohill Music Festival are The Rising, who will take to the stage at 11pm. Theywere formed to coincide with the centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016, and have built a reputation for lively traditional music with a modern twist.
Where are tickets available?
Tickets are available to purchase at the gate on the night. Weekend tickets are €30 and one night only is €20. Tickets can be purchased online via link on our Facebook or Instagram @AhiohillMusicFestival or on Clubforce.com. A limited number are available in the following shops; Ryans Rosscarbery, Whites Clonakilty, O’Reillys Bandon, Ballinascarthy, Centra Ballineen and Enniskeane and Lyre Bar.
