Excitement building to fever pitch ahead of Breffni Bash 2024
Kingspan Breffni, well known for staging some incredible nights of sporting prowess, will this summer turn into a stage of an altogether different kind, writes Marc Chander.
For three nights in June the hub of Cavan County GAA will host some of the biggest acts in Irish music, all to benefit the future development of the new Polo Grounds Centre of Excellence, adjacent to the proposed regional sports centre.
Arguably one of the biggest names on the circuit, Nathan Carter, will open the show on Friday evening, June 28.
With 13 studio albums to his name, five of which peaked at number one, the Liverpool-born Irish Country star’s appearance will ensure excitement levels reach fever pitch.
He’ll be supported on the night by another heavy hitter, and no stranger to jiving audiences here in Cavan, Mike Denver.
On the Saturday night, June 29, rip roaring five-piece Irish ballad/folk group, High Stool Prophets, will headline with support on the night from contemporary folk-rockers All Folked Up and One for the Road.
The Tumbling Paddies finally, one of Ireland’s most sought after entertainers, will close out the summer festival, on Sunday, June 30.
Chairman of the Cavan GAA Board, Kieran O’Callaghan admits it will be a “challenge” to accommodate upwards of 5,000 music fans at the local stadium each night, but says: “Cavan is a great venue, Kingspan Breffni is a great venue, and we have the facilities here to do it so let’s do it.”
On it being a benefit for not just the GAA but the whole of Cavan, Mr O’Callaghan added: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a concert, a match or whatever, the economy gets a boost out of it and it’s so important for the local businesses to realise the importance of bringing events like this.”
The lads from One for the Road - who hail from Monaghan and Tyrone - were asked about pulling on a Cavan jersey for one night only.
“It wasn’t mentioned in the contract, definitely not in the fine print,” they joked.
‘All Folked Up’, popular at venues locally, described their Cavan fans as “lethal craic, deadly energy, love it, they’re class”.
Asked about what crowds can expect from their performance at the Breffni Bash festival, the band added: “We’ll lift the roof off the place!”
Carter meanwhile spoke of his excitement at playing the newly enlarged festival.
Audiences of thousands attended the Breffni Bash when it took place at the Egg Market in Cavan Town, and the singer promised that the Kingspan Breffni outing stands to be “one of the biggest festivals in this area without a doubt this summer”.
“It’s a full night of dancing and drinking and having a good time. That’s what it’s all about,” promised Carter.
The Tumbling Paddies, who will close the series of shows, spoke of the well received the Breffni Bash was last year.
“It was magnificent so this year should be the same.”
They add: “It should be a massive crowd this year. There’s a massive marquee going up and there should be unreal atmosphere in it.”
Again, on pulling on the blue and white to support Cavan, the Fermanagh men joked: “I don’t think we’ll be seen in that. We’re Fermanagh men and proud. So we won’t be doing that.”