Upcoming festival in Roscommon to be focus of five-part TV series

The staging of a new music festival in county Roscommon next month is to be the focus of a five-part television series on TG4, it was announced today (Monday).

The inaugural Night and Day festival is taking place on the ground of Clonalis House in Castlerea on September 24 and 25.

Its line-up includes artists such as Villagers, Orla Gartland, Cathy Davey, The Zutons, John Grant, Moxie, The Mary Wallopers, and more.

Red Shoe Productions and TG4 today announced that the television series Night and Day Festival: Ó Dhubh go Dubh will "capture the musical magic" of the festival.

The five 30-minute episodes are due to feature highlights from the Queen Medb stage (main stage) at the festival, as well backstage interviews with artists and acoustic sessions recorded inside Clonalis House.

Red Shoe Productions are an independent and female-led TV production company based in the Waterford Gaeltacht, and are no stranger to musical programming, recently winning the Royal Television Society Award for “Best Factual Programme” for Voices of Ireland (Sky Arts) with Imelda May.

Commenting on the announcement, Red Shoe owner and director Maggie Breathnach said: "Red Shoe are delighted to be partnering with Night and Day for their first festival venture this autumn.

"It's great to see a line-up that showcases so many amazing homegrown Irish artists, particularly female artists and we're really excited to be part of the madness."

Cruachan Productions (the festival organisers) is a family-run company, comprised of uncle and nephew pairing Brendan Hurley and Craig Hughes.

Brendan is the founder of the Claremorris Folk Festival, which is in its third year, and a former event production manager at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. Craig is a political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail and has worked in the national media for more than 10 years.

Festival Director Brendan Hurley said: "It's been an exciting journey putting the festival together, bringing great acts to Roscommon and also giving local artists a platform to showcase their talents.

"It is extra special that we are going to be able to share the experience with the entire country and not just those who are fortunate enough to join us at our inaugural event," he said.

Tickets are limited to just 2,000 for the first year of the festival, and more information about the event can be found on its website here.