Big success for Smithfield fest

SMITHFIELD Square was transformed into a stage of colour and spectacle for the recent BlueFire Street Fest, which has been hailed as a great success.

Thousands of Dubliners flocked to the Northside square where they were treated to fantastic performances from some of the city’s top entertainers and artists.

A stellar main stage line-up included Gypsy Rebel Rabble, Tig Linn and a high-octane performance from festival headliner and crowd favourites, Mutefish.

The festival also saw the return of the popular street performers’ area where crowds were treated to an eclectic selection of performances from Shamrock Bhangra, the Lung Ying Academy and Samba Dance Brazil to highlight the diverse range of cultural influences on the arts in Dublin.

Over the course of the day, visitors to the Street Fest were also able to get involved in interactive workshops including African Djembe Drumming, Capoeira and a creative writing workshop.

The BlueFire festival also featured the first ever

‘VitalTalks’. Hosted by the Community Foundation of Ireland and opened by Dermot Whelan from Today FM, the session provided a platform for 18-25-year-olds to talk about what it’s like to live in Dublin today and discuss topics such as unemployment, immigration and homelessness.

Now in its second year, the 2014 Street Fest was boosted by a significant increase in the number of performers, workshops and attendees and planning is underway for next year’s event.