Thurles Feile Eile -promoting public awareness on environmental issues

tipperary | arts and media | event notice Friday September 19, 2008 10:15 by Rona S

Encouraging participation in community activities and raise funds for Thurles Tidy Towns

Feile Eile is to promote public awareness on environmental issues, encourage
participation in community activities and raise funds for Thurles Tidy Towns.

Feile Eile will take place in Parnell St. Car Park, Thurles on Sun 21st September and
coincides with International Car-Free Day, European Mobility Week and National
Organic Week.

The day kicks off @ Midday and will finish up around 8.30pm.

Vehicles are banned from the car park for the day as a pedestrian mini-village is
being created ? where people can hang out, get involved and inform themselves about
eco-friendly, organic and fair-trade products grown and available locally.

It will be a day out for the whole family to promote healthier and more sustainable
choices and will include:

? Performance areas ? many local; bands will be playing: The Rumours, Jester,
Minus 1, Player Cam, Infintini Bros.,

? Video and dialogue area ? this area will play host to numerous guest speakers and
associated videos around the broad subject of the environment

? Fun and arts area ? a variety of activities will take place in this area during
the afternoon

? Market area for eco-friendly products

? information stands by local community groups

The event is in part, to commerate the 5 Feiles synonymous with Thurles town; that
played a large part in bringing the modern festival to this country. For those of
you too young to remember or not around at the time; the original Feiles (or Trip
to Tipp, as it was also known) took place in the early '90s when there were few
rock/indie/alternative festivals around. Then it became the place to perform.

By today's festival standards, the original Feile was fairly basic and at times got
completely out of hand but it was all part of the learning curve. The majority of
people you talk to round the country have fond memories of the days in Thurles at
the Feiles they attended.

To honour the original Feiles, we gave the event a very similar name - 'the other
Feile' or Feile Eile, this is also to show that it can be a more environmentally
conscious event.

The use of Irish language was considered important in the name to highlight the
areas rich heritage and cultural pride.

To ensure the event is accessible to all sectors of our diverse society there will
be no admission fee however; Thurles Tidy Towns will be looking for donations on
entrances and throughout the day. We have relied solely on donations so far and
that's how we'd like to keep it.
The event is being staffed purely by local volunteers and we could always do with
some more assistance ?

We encourage all traders specialising in environmentally friendly, health, organic,
and fair-trade products to contact us and be a part of this fundraising and public
awareness event.

Although they are generally a rare breed in Thurles, we are also keen to include
street entertainers in the days events so again anyone with some skills they want to
share ? get in touch.

Please contact Rona on 0504 26442 or [email protected] or check us out on
www.bebo.com/thurlest , to discuss your involvement in Feile Eile or other Thurles
Tidy Towns activities.