About our Festival
The ethos of Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival is to celebrate, connect, share,
transform and surprise!
The original 'Birr Vintage Week' began back in 1968 by celebrating the unique Georgian heritage of the town of Birr and town all things vintage! Now, 55 years later, our Festival is nationally-acknowledged as a unique historical, cultural and community-focused celebration.
The people of Birr, those who live here and those who return for the Festival, are enormously proud of Vintage Week. It's a special time when our community comes together to honour and celebrate our town's rich culture and heritage. It's a testament to the special place the Festival holds in people's hearts.
So many people have been involved with the Festival over the years, from organisers, to funders and sponsors, volunteers and thousands of spectators.... it's a shining example of community.
2024 FESTIVAL
GOING WITH THE FLOW
From 2-10 August, we invited you to Go with the Flow with a full programme of the familiar, the surprising and some revivals. Whether you wanted to visit an exhibition, watch a show, dance, run, walk, swim, create, discover or race a duck, there was something for every age and interest in our 2024 programme.
Vintage Week is a time of homecoming when we welcome and reconnect with friends and family and enjoy together the magical experiences that make up the 56th Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival.
Our special thanks go to our Public Funders, and to the businesses and people of Birr, whose generous sponsorship and support make this Festival possible. As always, we ask you to support those who support the festival, and to support our bucket collections at our many free events.
Our range of sustainable merchandise was on sale at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre and theVintage Week Office at Jerro’s, Main Street to remember Vintage Week throughout the year.
MEET THE TEAM
Caroline Conway
Chair & Visual Arts Coordinator
Rebecca Kelly
Marketing & Audience Development Manager
Molly Kavanagh
Festival Intern
Dickie Donnelly
Vice Chair & Assistant Events Coordinator
Rachel Alexander
Volunteer Manager
Cha Cahill
Festival Manager
Christy Keaveny
Festival Technician
Susanne O'Reilly
Treasurer
Annie Nichol
Courthouse Yard Arts Coordinator
Fergus Kelly
Festival Support
Garrett Kelly
Secretary
Amy Harvey
Festival Support
John Kelly
Festival Support
Eoin Kelly
Pub Liaison
Derek Harvey
Festival Support
Seán Loughnane
Festival Support
Janine Wilson
Board of Directors
Cyril Stanley
Board of Directors
Emma Nee Haslam
Board of Directors
Julie McGuirk
Company Secretary
Cailin Keaveny
Board of Directors
The history
Offaly Libraries has put together a fascinating insight into the wonderful development of Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival over the years
Written by librarian and Birr native Julie McGuirk.
