Art picks: Sharon Mundy

Highlights of 2023

Sharon Mundy

Visual artist

Best arts event: The absolute highlight of 2023 was the Healing spirit festival set in the most beautiful valley overlooking Lough Oughther. I can still hear the old Irish tones of Marcus McGee and the Hollawmen not to mention the talented Fiona Fitzpatrick and of course Kila blew the place up.

The forest hosted lots of quirky events and sitting around big fires with even bigger marshmallows surrounded by all kinds of people who honestly you could never put together. The children ran up and down hills and through forests all weekend with sticks and it reminded me of olden days and the beauty and simplicity of just being in nature. That festival is good for the soul.

Best surprise: On Culture night I innocently put my name down for what I thought would be a little taster plate of food from the Local Green Box. How wrong I was! I'm a big foodie, and they put on the most incredible banquet of the most gorgeous local, organic and yummy food, on a table I couldn't even see over it was so big.

People were sitting around tables chatting and having fun eating by candle light. It was fabulous and romantic and a lovely suprise.

One to Watch: Ciaran O Neill and Co - Ciaran is an unbelievable songwriter and his authentic writing reminds me of the legend Shane MacGowan.

On that note, Lisa O'Neill singing at MacGowan's funeral was so fitting and she really has the perfect, quirky voice for Fairytale in New York. I love how she has a lovely Cavan accent which she isn't trying to change.

Best Theatre: Super Bogger was so much fun, I travelled to Longford to see it because I missed it in Cavan. I was in a bit of a panic pulled up outside the Backstage Theatre ran in just in time for the start. Aaron Monaghan did not miss a beat and had us all in stitches. A must see and I think Aaron is the man to watch in 2024, he's a world class talent.

Best film: I will be watching Santa Claus the Movie again this year with the kids on Netflix, my Mother brought me to the cinema to see it many times as a child. I'll also be watching Home Alone 1 and 2, Elf and the Grinch this year for a guarranteed good laugh.