Tallafest bigger and better!
By Aideen O'Flaherty
TALLAFEST will be back bigger and better this summer. For the first time in 87 years, there will be a tram on Main Street Tallaght, courtesy of the National Transport Museum.
This will give people from Tallaght a unique opportunity to see what travel was like before Dublin Bus and the Luas.
At the launch in Tallaght Village on Saturday were Tallaght Person of the Year Gar Tyrell, Donie Anderson and David Saunders with local children. Photo by Paddy Barrett
The Big Dig is also coming to Tallaght for the first time as part of Tallafest 2019. The replica ‘Viking House’ and excavation site allows children and young adults to explore the Viking world through a simulated archaeology dig.
The Tallafest u11s Soccer tournament (located in the ITT pitches) and Active Seniors Hub (located in St Maelruains parish hall) launched last year, are getting bigger and better.
Under the watchful eye of Sinead Tighe, an Inclusion Hub will join the festival program this year.
Some old favourites will also be returning for the event, which celebrates Tallaght and its environs, including an agri-aware farm, a craft and food market, a soft play area for kids, a history walk and drumming circles.
The event will take place at locations in the centre of Tallaght, chiefly in Tallaght Village, including TU Dublin-Tallaght Campus, St Maelruain’s Church, St Mary’s Priory and the Old Greenhills Road.
Tallaght Community Council (TCC) met in the heart of the village to officially launch this year’s community festival and were joined by supporters, sponsors, community groups and local representatives, including Tallaght Person of the Year Gar Tyrell, Minister Katherine Zappone, Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart and several local election candidates.
Bohernabreena farmer Donie Anderson, who will be participating in Tallafest, also brought along one of his sheep and his sheepdog for the launch.
Tallafest will take place on Saturday, June 22, in Tallaght village, where there will be lots of fun for all the family.
Tara De Buitlear from TCC said: “Tallafest 2019 has a bigger programme again this year – which includes some really unique and one-off attractions for Tallaght.
“It is now the largest free community event in Tallaght! TCC work very hard for months to ensure the festival brings new and exciting creative, cultural and collaborative activities for the community to enjoy.
“To achieve this we constantly work with our partners such as Dublin Fire Brigade, National Museums, An Taisce, the creative industry as well as local groups such as Tallaght Community Arts, SDCC, Tallaght Town FC, TUD-Tallaght Campus and Partas. Local businesses are also very supportive and they are becoming more actively involved year-on-year.”
