Hundreds of concert goers rock out in Cork at second Macroom Music Festival
Close to two thousand people descended on Macroom on Saturday to experience the main event of the town’s second ever Music Festival, an open air concert headlined by 90s rockers The Stunning and indie-folk band Hermitage Green.
Concert-goers, many dressed in colourful attire including cowboy hats, boots and cool shades, began to gather in the town’s square from 5.30pm onwards on Saturday evening, for what organisers described as a “five and a half hour music marathon” that began at 6pm.
Rowan Band, an up and coming indie-folk collective, were the first to take to the stage in Macroom and kept those first on the scene entertained. Next up was White Horse Guitar Club, an Americana group which were described as a “joy to listen to” courtesy of their “easy listening repertoire and amazing harmonies.”
As dusk fell on the town, Hermitage Green took to the stage in the square for a “very special performance”. In performing one of their biggest hits, ‘Glow of the Kerosene Light’, they got everyone present singing along with them.
Following the Limerick acoustic folk band’s set were headline act The Stunning, who had not been in Macroom for over 30 years since the early years of O’Riada’s and were “delighted to be back in town”.
Festival organisers said that the Galway band ensured that everyone had a great time and in finishing with their hit ‘Brewing Up a Storm’, they had their intergenerational audience “dancing and waving in the air”.
When attendees were not dancing, they could avail of seating, food outlets and a Heineken Bar setup in the square.
“Watching people meeting old friends, many expats home on holidays from places like USA and Australia, and others just catching up with locals, it was a joy to watch those lovely friendly encounters,” festival organisers said in a post-event report.
While Saturday night was the highlight of the 2024 Macroom Music Festival, events were also run on Friday and Sunday as part of the celebration.
On Friday evening, the ‘Band Trail’ in all the pubs, which availed of a late licence for the weekend, got the town in the mood for Saturday, with young and old enjoying a variety of music that was played live across Macroom.
On Sunday, the Macroom & Districts Lions Club, in collaboration with many other local groups, held a family day in the GAA grounds, The sun shone brightly all day and organisers said that the sounds of families having a great time was brilliant.
Macroom Music Festival organisers said that they would like to acknowledge the support of the businesses and residents of the town centre by allowing the concert to take place again in the square.
Thanks were offered to Macroom Municipal District Council, Heineken, Lee Valley Enterprise, the volunteers from the local businesses, Deputy Mayor of Cork County Martin Coughlan and the Tidy Towns volunteers, and to everyone else who helped and supported the festival.
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