Get In The Swing With Food And Blues At Irish Open Fringe Festival

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have been working in partnership with the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce to bring a fantastic range of locally produced artisan food markets to Castle Park on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May from 11am to 7pm as part of the Food and Blues Event. The Council have been busy organising the Irish Open Fringe Festival during the Irish Open to ensure there are a variety of events taking place in the town suitable for families, couples, groups, golfers or non-golfers to enjoy.

The Food and Blues Festival will be one of the highlights of the weekend and children can enjoy a day of FREE entertainment starting from 11am.  Circus Performers will start off the entertainment and children will be watching in awe as Chef Logy juggles knives, vegetables and anything he can get his hands apart from the kitchen sink. In the afternoon Sharped Dressed Men double act will amaze and astound everyone of all ages as they perform high skill object manipulation, gravity defying diabolo tricks, thunderous whip cracking, dangerous juggling and a fiery finale performed 10 feet in the air.

Young ones will enjoy the Moon and Sixpence marionette string puppet theatre as they bring the classic fairy tale Red Riding Hood to Castle Park. The show lasting fifty five minutes will be performed twice during each day of the event with music and sound effects requiring plenty of participation from both adults and children.

Driving down main street you will be drawn to Castle Park as the town is filled with the aroma of the vast range of tasty locally produced artisan products on offer in the food village. Whilst you tuck into the finest range of freshly produced products you can listen to the fantastic FREE blues music on offer. On Saturday the Council are delighted to secure Cup O’ Joe and Bluez Kats. Cup O’ Joe were the finalist in the recent BBC radio 2 folk awards and tour extensively in America and Europe. Bluez Katz has recently been the supporting act for Van Morrison and will be performing a range of blues/soul/funk and rock. On Sunday soul band Manukahunney and country blues band The Nooks will have people dancing to the beat as they put on an afternoon of high energy blues music.

More crowds will gather at 5pm as they await the premier of the LoveGolfLove; a witty performance composed by Brian Irvine, the newly appointed Belfast Music Laureate and written by award winning Northern Ireland playwright Owen McCafferty.

For those looking to become the next Rory McIlroy why not come and have a swing at the Island Chip Challenge throughout the week of the Irish Open in Castle Park or have a drive down Main Street in the golf simulator located outside the Newcastle Centre for the entire week.

Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Naomi Bailie stated, ”The Council is very excited about the prestigious Irish Open coming to Newcastle. The Fringe Festival organised by the Council will host a range of fantastic events that everyone can enjoy and is a real opportunity for visitors coming to the area to sample what Newcastle has to offer as a tourist destination. The food and hospitality sector plays a key role here in Newry Mourne and Down and off course that's complimented by our abundance of locally sourced fresh produce and award winning eateries. Visitors will have a chance to sample that range of produce from fresh seafood caught in the Irish Sea, Luxury Cheeses and diary produce churned in the Mournes to connoisseur Whiskeys brewed in the district. There really is something to tantalise all appetites and the festival promises to be spectacular for local people and visitors alike.”

For further information or a FREE copy of the Festival programme please contact Newcastle Visitor Centre on 028 4372 2222 or full listings online at www.facebook.com/DownFestivals