The next ten days will celebrate 40 years of Ireland’s oldest arts Festival.
The Kilkenny Arts Festival commences today, Friday 9 August and will run until 18 August as the city comes to life with over 500 artists from 21 countries presenting almost 150 events in 35 distinct locations. There is no city like Kilkenny and there is no festival like Kilkenny Arts Festival.
The 40th Kilkenny Arts Festival will commence today with an opening party at Butler House and Gardens at 5pm to celebrate and reminiscence as festival founders look back at how it all began, and some special guests give us their take on the Kilkenny experience. This will be followed by the opening performance of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre’s all female production of The Taming of The Shrew at Castle Yard (7.30pm) and Neil Hannon performing at St. Canice’s Cathedral (8.30pm). For full programme details visit: www.kilkennyarts.ie
Kilkenny Arts Festival draws over 28,000 visitors to the city annually with its mix of poets and performers, sopranos and sculptors, Krautrock and craftwork, workshops and talks. Alongside showcasing some of the biggest names in the arts from both Ireland and around the world it has played, and continues to play an important role in nurturing new talent and commissioning new pieces to begin at the Festival and carry on their artistic journey.
For more information and for the full programme go to www.kilkennyarts.ie