Festival of World Cultures

With sell-out shows and high-spirited performances we are delighted to announce that close to 220,000 people enjoyed the Festival of World Cultures 2006. As in previous years the picturesque coastal town of Dun Laoghaire was transformed as organisers and local businesses welcomed a kaleidoscopic gathering of artists from over 50 countries worldwide.

160 events over 3 days and nights took place in 40 venues and with a programme that was 70% free to the public, word on the street was that the Festival was the only place to be.

On arrival in Dun Laoghaire one could not miss the sights on sounds of the Festival, seafront road closures created a safe and festive atmosphere and buskers – acrobats, puppet shows, musicians and dancers – matched up pace by pace on your journey from the World Dance Plaza to the People’s Park and on to Newtownsmith’s main stage and picnic area.

On Saturday the main stage audiences were blown away by an inspired performance by Italy’s Enzo Avitabile & Bottari – a pulsing rhythmic set and on Sunday the dynamic collaboration of Trans- Global Underground and Trio Bulgarka a stunning and powerful show that awed capacity crowds. Few too will forget the atmosphere from both the stage and crowds during Mundy’s packed concert in the Kingston Hotel Garden on Saturday evening.