Preparations for 58th Birr Vintage Week are full steam ahead!
No festival in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands region is being supported by Fáilte Ireland funding in 2026
THE preparations for this year's Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival are in full swing with the hard working festival committee currently going through their long list of tasks as the event draws ever nearer.
The 58th iteration of this popular and much-loved festival will run from July 31st to August 8th. As one of Ireland's longest-running community and arts festivals, it will feature a packed schedule of street theatre, live music, art exhibitions, fireworks and a Parade.
Caroline Conway, Chairperson of the festival, told last week's AGM that the committee is “absolutely thrilled” to be the driving force continuing this long tradition of a “jam-packed week celebrating our culture, featuring a town-wide programme of events.”
She said Vintage Week is a massive team effort which includes the committee, community organisers, volunteers, participants and thousands of spectators.
She offered “special thanks” to the businesses and people of Birr, “whose generous sponsorship and support make this Festival possible."
She thanked a number of sponsors, including The Arts Council, Offaly County Council, Birr Municipal District, Creative Ireland and Offaly Local Development Company.
Other sponsors include Birr's publicans, Grant Engineering, Birr Lions Club, Hollywood's Garage, the European Tech Hub, Birr Castle Demesne, EJ, Dooly's and the County Arms, Talbot Motor Factors, Butler's Haven Pharmacy, Athenry Credit Union and many Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors. She thanked the “in kind” sponsors which include Hassett's and Central Plant & Tool Hire.
She thanked the festival's Board of Directors, who are Janine Wilson, Cyril Stanley, Emma Nee Haslam and Cailin Keaveny.
Caroline said 2024 saw a change in the Parade's route, “and while there are still some teething difficulties to iron out, this change has saved the festival thousands of Euros by avoiding closing the N52."
Highlights of the 57th Festival last year included the Vintage Sunday Parade, which attracted 6,000 spectators; the many children's events; a wonderful performance in Birr Castle of “Metamorphosis” which featured community performers alongside national and international performers; the visual arts including an immersive installation in the old Cinema and the Alphabet Soup exhibition featuring local graphic designers and a film, “Memories of a Sign Writer,” about Brendan Moon and celebrating sign writing in Birr. Birr Rugby Club had a very successful family fun day, which saw the return of the duck race.
“The festival means different things to different people,” commented Caroline, “from Dancing at the Cottages, to the Birr Garden Trail, from Historical Walks to the Car Treasure Hunt, from Singing Pubs to Vintage Tennis. Whether you are interested in art, children's events, history, sport, music, theatre or vintage craic, there is something for everyone and above all it is about this town and this community.”
She said the Arts Council funding remains in line with last year and Offaly County Council's funding has increased from €3,000 to €4,500 this year.
“We were unsuccessful in our application (which involved a lot of work to prepare) for Fáilte Ireland Festival funding. Disappointingly, no festival in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands region is being supported by Fáilte Ireland funding in 2026. I would like to acknowledge and thank Emma Nee Haslam for her support with the application.”
She said the festival's sponsorship drive is now open. “We increased the levels last year, the first adjustment in over 15 years, in response to rising costs across the board. The new levels are: Bronze €120; Silver €400; and Gold €550.”
The Chair pointed out that the 2026 Sunday Parade will feature a slightly different energy, “with a stronger focus on what happens after it passes by. Alongside all the classic elements (vintage cars, marching bands, that sense of spectacle moving through the streets), we're creating more space for people to pause and enjoy. There'll be street performers stationed all along Main Street, with a free aerial show, so instead of just catching a glimpse as they go by, audiences can stop, watch, and really take it in once the main Parade is over.
“We are also introducing a new initiative, “Bikes and Barrows,” which is designed to bring even more community involvement into the heart of the Parade. We're inviting everyone, families, friends, clubs, businesses, to decorate a wheelbarrow and take part. It's playful, in the spirit of the tradition of the Parade, and very much about participation – and there are also cash prizes! Alongside that, we'll have some fantastic bike performers and a collection of wonderfully unusual adapted bikes originally created for Longford Lights, adding another layer of movement to the day."
The Visual Arts Trail will bring together a series of temporary outdoor works, woven through the town alongside its permanent artistic features. “It's not just about the more monumental sculptures, but also the quieter, more hidden pieces that people might pass every day without noticing. The idea is to create a journey that invites visitors to discover what's here, while also encouraging locals to look again, to re-engage with and appreciate what they already have, perhaps seeing it in a new light.”
It was also revealed that the Fireworks will be moving back to Birr Rugby Club this year, after being in Crinkle in 2025. The plan is that each venue will be used for the fireworks on alternate years.
There was also some discussion among the committee members about whether the parade would progress in a clockwise or anti-clockwise manner, but no decision has been made on this yet. There was also some discussion about the location of the guests viewing area during the Parade, but no final decision was made.
The committee is strongly encouraging all the community groups to get their events in as soon as possible before the brochure goes to print.
“We are all looking forward to a sunny summer and lots of Vintage fun!” concluded Caroline in her AGM Chairperson's address.
The Treasurer's Report was also given during the AGM and revealed a healthy financial state. In 2025 the festival's income was €93,477 and its expenditure was €93,739 therefore its bank account deficit is negligible. The accounts were audited by Ryan & Associates.
A number of officers were also elected during the AGM. They are: Co-Chairperson: Caroline Conway. Co-Chairperson: Amy Harvey. Secretary: Garrett Kelly. The Treasurer Susanne O'Reilly is stepping down after three years in the role.