Festival fever to take over streets and stadium

THOUSANDS of music lovers are making their way to Tuam this weekend amid hopes that the sell-out SugarBeat Music Festival could be the kick-start for the town to harness the growing trend of music tourism.
The town’s two hotels have been booked out for weeks and there are even music lovers renting a number of cottages in Milltown especially for the weekend.
The one-day festival in Tuam Stadium has spurred add on events with businesses and pubs all eager to offer festival goers further entertainment. Tuam Chamber of Commerce has organised the town’s first-ever Tuam BuskFest with plenty of street musicians already confirmed to bring music into the town centre.
With Tuam’s Trad Festival in September growing each year there are hopes that the town might be able to host the County Fleadh Cheoil or the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in future years.
The weekend has also turned into something of a homecoming for many young people from North Galway who have left Ireland in recent years. SugarBeat organisers Rossi Sheridan and Shane Donnellan say it was amazing to look at how far away tickets for the festival were being sold.
“There are people coming from Canada, all over America, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, France and of course various part of the UK,” said Shane.