As a veteran of the first 5 Lisdoonvarna festivals (1978-1982) I was intrigued to learn that it is proposed to revive the festival this year after a 20 year gap. The last Festival held in 1983 was somewhat marred by a number of violent incidents and a drowning tragedy on Doolin Beach. I missed that festival, partly because I was somewhat dubious about the fact that it had been moved to a Bank Holiday week-end to attract a bigger (and not necessarily music loving) audience and the fact that the line-up was moving more towards the rock end of the spectrum and away from folk & traditional, which had been the mainstay of the early line-ups. This is not to say anything against either Van Morrison or Rory Gallagher who headlined the Festival in 1983 and of whom I am a big fan.

This years Festival will be for one day only Sat 28th of June and will be headlined by Christy Moore. Given that Christy immortalised the festival in that song, it was inevitable that he was chosen to top the bill, which also includes Luka Bloom and Suzanne Vega. A lot of the rest of the bill will probably be unfamiliar to most Mudcatters as they are mainly known locally in Ireland but fall into a sort of indie/folkie/rocky type category. The Frames are mainly a rock band but with a few acoustic instruments, including a fiddle. Their lead singer is Glen Hansard, probably best know outside Ireland for his role as Outspan, the l;ead guitarist of the commitments. Mundy and Damien Dempsy are both contemporary singer songwriters in a similar vein.

The line-up, as with the website here is still under construction. It is dissapointing that it doesn't at least yet contain any of the local traditional music for which West Clare is famous, but that might be rectified over time. Either way the festival is within walking distance of Doolin, where there is plenty of this to be found all year round.

Overall I haven't yet made up my mind whether I want to go myself yet. Its a long long way from Clare to here, and I'm due back down there the following week-end for the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown-Malbay. As well as this the inclusuion of a second stage which I'm assuming (since I haven't heard of any of the bands) is more Club/D.J oriented makes me think that they are aiming more for the 18-25 year old market, than for the likes of me. Then again I was in that age-group when I used to go there before.

ANyone there for the last few choc-ices. All together now Oh Lisdoonvarna, Lisdoon ...