Croílár Festival to take place in fifteen venues this weekend
Athlone is set to come alive this weekend as the Croílár Festival brings together some of Ireland’s most exciting emerging talent across music, comedy, visual art and storytelling.
Kicking off tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday, April 19, the festival will feature more than 70 performers and events spread across 15 venues in the heart of the town.
Festival-goers can look forward to a packed programme celebrating creativity, connection and community in a range of iconic and unexpected spaces.
From the intimate surroundings of Sean’s Bar to the unique atmosphere of St Mary’s Church, as well as popular spots like Peddlers Mac’s, The Snug Bar, Flannery’s, Dead Centre Brewery and venues along Connacht Street, Croílár promises a dynamic cultural trail through Athlone.
Organisers say each location has been carefully selected to showcase performances in distinctive and memorable settings.
In addition to its artistic line-up, the festival will also offer a wellness experience along the shores of Lough Ree. Festival partner SauNua will host lakeside sessions featuring wood-fired saunas, outdoor hot tubs and cold-water plunges, giving attendees an opportunity to relax and recharge between events.
The initiative is designed to balance the high energy of the festival with moments of calm, allowing visitors to unwind while taking in scenic views of the lake.
Changing facilities, hot showers and an on-site café will also be available.
The Croílár line-up features a diverse mix of established and up-and-coming acts.
The opening night on Friday sees an evening of diverse performances across The Church, Dead Centre Brewing, McNeill’s Bar, Peddlar Mac’s, and the Piano Bar.
Highlights include Officer John, Olan Monk, and Stella and The Dreaming at The Church, while the Piano Bar hosts Sei Green, Lil Skag & Sugaboo, and Ahmed, With Love..
Peddlar Mac’s offers performances by Hubert Murray, Laura Duff, and And He, The Fool, while upstairs at the Piano Bar, Sell Everything and Softdrink Millionaire round out the night.
Saturday kicks off at Bay Sports with Sauna Wellness and continues at Venue 4 with wellness sessions like Breath ’N’ Booch with Keith and Yoga with Sonia.
The Canopy stage features electronic acts such as Oriol, Jonezy, and Big Cheeks, while Sean’s Bar hosts Khidyie, Last Apollo, Cable Boy, and Dub Aquatic.
Flannery’s and Peddlar Mac’s present performances from Áine Gordon, Eva Coyle, All Things Eve, and Dominda. Comedy and traditional sessions take place at The Snug Bar.
Saturday highlights include Joshua Burnside at The Church, Anna Leah, Keeve, and Mossy Ryans at Nut’s Corner, and Calum Agnew, WineMom, Spooklet, and Huartan at Maise’s. The late-night set continues with Big Cheeks and K8olo.
Sunday wraps up the festival with daytime and afternoon acts. Bay Sports opens at noon with Sauna Wellness, Booley on Sean Costello Street hosts Spoken Word Sunday, and Connaught Street Market entertains festivalgoers with local flair.
Sean’s Bar closes out the festival with performances from Patrick Heffernan, Liam Winnett, and Múlú, while The Snug Bar features Barry B2B Ossian, Thakattak, Eddie Connolly, and Hannah Hession.
Weekend tickets are currently available, priced at €75.85, with two-day passes for Saturday and Sunday costing €49.45.
Tickets for the popular Seanchoíche storytelling event are priced at €24.95, while group options are also on offer, with team tickets (admitting four people) available for €250.