Macroom Mountain Dew Festival

Macroom Mountain Dew Festival
Macroom Castle, site of most of the Mountain Dew festivals
GenreRock
DatesTypically late June or July
Location(s)Macroom Castle, Macroom, County Cork, Ireland
Coordinates51°54′19″N 8°57′44″W / 51.90517°N 8.96229°W / 51.90517; -8.96229
Years active1976–1982
AttendanceUp to 20,000

Macroom Mountain Dew Festival was a music festival in Ireland, which was held between 1976 and 1982. Taking place in the grounds of a 19th-century castle in County Cork,[1] it is considered to have been the first rock festival in Ireland.[2][3]

History

The festival is named for Macroom's reputation as a centre for production of poitín ("mountain dew").[4] Its organisation was spearheaded by publican and undertaker John Martin Fitz-Gerald, who approached Rory Gallagher’s brother and manager, Donal, about staging the open air concert.[5]

Year 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
Venue Macroom GAA Macroom Castle Macroom Castle Macroom Castle a site 1 mile outside Macroom town Coolcower House[6]
Main acts

References

  1. ^ "Music festival returns to Macroom after 40 years". Cork Independent. April 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Macroom's 'Mountain Dew' was Ireland's first rock festival". Irish Examiner. July 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "RORY AND HERMAN". October 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "Illicit vodka operation uncovered in Cork". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ a b "Recalling when one brave little town decided to host Ireland's first rock festival". The Southern Star.
  6. ^ "Recalling when one brave little town decided to host Ireland's first rock festival".
  7. ^ "Book marks 40th year of Macroom Mountain Dew Festival". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ "How Macroom rocked Ireland during the 1970s". Independent.ie. December 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "Ireland's first open air rock festival. Grounds of Macroom Castle Co Cork .June 26th 1977". March 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "Rory Gallagher - Poster for the Macroom Mountain Dew Festival on this day in 1978. | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  11. ^ Crowley, Roz (31 August 2020). "#VanMorrisson75 at Macroom Mountain Dew Festival 1980. Great pics as usual from @EddieOHare1 @irishexaminer. It's a marvelous night..." Twitter.
  12. ^ Fitzgerald, Eric (November 7, 2013). "Van Morrison's Guitar Man Dave Keary: From Tuesday Blue to Astral Weeks". Limerick Post Newspaper.
  13. ^ "Mike Oldfield Setlist at Macroom Castle, Macroom". setlist.fm.
  14. ^ "20 unforgettable festival memories". The Irish Times.
  15. ^ "Irish Independent, June 29, 1981 - The Elvis Costello Wiki". www.elviscostello.info.