Wild weather no match for Celtic spirit in Portarlington

COLD and rainy conditions across the long weekend did little to dampen spirits in Portarlington, where the National Celtic Folk Festival swept the town with a not-to-be missed cultural experience spanning music, food and community.

A jam-packed roster of events took place across the four-day celebration, with heated marquees and venues across the town helping to keep the festival’s thousands of attendees warm and the atmosphere electric.

Festival director Una McAlinden said feedback from this year’s festival, which finished on Monday this week, had already been “overwhelmingly positive”.

“This was the best festival we’ve had since COVID.

“The energy and atmosphere were incredible, and even with the wild weather, the event was a huge success. We saw a great turnout with many new faces and a wonderfully diverse program celebrating various arts and cultures.

“Spirits were high, and the craic was mighty throughout the entire festival.”

This year’s festival opened with a bang last Friday last week, with four outstanding contemporary and traditional Irish acts coming together for a showcase concert that set the tone for the rest of the festival.

For each act, the festival marked their first visit to Australia, their appearance in Portarlington made possible by a new partnership between the event’s organisers and Irish art exporter Culture Ireland.

The opening was also attended by several City of Greater Geelong councillors, including Cr Anthony Aitken, who spoke to the crowd about the festival’s cultural significance to the region.

“Now in its 21st year here in Portarlington, the festival has grown into something truly special: a celebration of music, culture and community that transforms this beautiful seaside town into a vibrant Celtic hub,” he said.

The National Celtic Folk Festival will return next year. For more information, head to nationalcelticfestival.com