Bianconi festival will be back in 2012 By Bernie Commins
Niall Dennehy, Bianconi 225 organiser enjoying a chat with Paul Gallagher at last year's event.
Organisers behind the inaugural Bianconi 225 festival which took place in 2011, have said that the festival’s success last year, has paved the way for its return once again this year.
Niall Dennehy, a former mayor of Clonmel and admirer of the great pioneer of public transport Charles Bianconi, felt last year that the time was right to celebrate the life of Bianconi, himself a former Clonmel mayor, and the entrepreneurial endeavours he took.
Last year marked the 225th anniversary of Bianconi’s birth, hence the festival name ‘Bianconi 225’ and it is hoped that the festival will grow over the coming years, helping to boost local business, tourism and promote cultural, economic and business relationships between South Tipperary and other parts of the country, and the world.
“This year we will run the festival over ten days in September and last years rock event, ‘Bianconi Rocks’ which was very successful, will also be back this year,” said Mr. Dennehy.
Last year two local charities benefited from a bucket collection which was held in Clonmel during the festival weekend: the Carers Association and the Clonmel branch of the Chernobyl Children International (CCI) received in excess of €1,000 each. And the charitable aspect will feature again this year as another two charities will be chosen.
Mr. Dennehy said that the towns of Carrick-on-Suir and Cahir have expressed an interest in partaking in the 2012 festival, and he said that he has been in touch with the mayors’ offices in Sligo and Waterford, counties that have connections to Bianconi, in the hope of garnering interest from farther afield.
“We might do something like suggest that Waterford or Sligo hold a battle of the bands competition and send the winning band to us to perform on the weekend,” said Mr. Dennehy. Last year, club DJ Paul Gallagher, brother of Noel and Liam of former Oasis glory, came to Clonmel and performed in O’Keeffe’s. According to Mr. Dennehy, he was very impressed with the festival and enjoyed being a part of it.
“This is a five-year project and we hope that it will grow in time, we hope that Failte Ireland will come on board with us also and see the potential there.”
There are plans afoot to stage a cultural event that would include representatives from all the towns and cities that are twinned with Clonmel, as an opportunity for Clonmel people to get to know these twinned places a bit better.
“Many people in Clonmel would never have the resources to visit these cities and this might be a great way for them to sample such places. It might not happen this year, but it is part of the plan,” said Mr. Dennehy.
An enterprise seminar, is also in the cards for the festival, and Mr. Dennehy said that he would be happy to work with the Bianconi Twinning Committee again next year.
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Saturday 19 May 2012
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