Terry Hall from the Specials, 80’s star, Howard Jones, the Wailers without Bob, Peter Cook from Joy Division and many more were part of the line up at Temple House Festival, last weekend.

Also under the canopy of trees, along the Art Trail, a unique one-off musical performance took place. The Arts and Disability group, The Karl Burke Music Group from North West Parents and Friends, Cloonamahon, Sligo Learning Disability Group Home Services and the Ballytivnan Training Centre, reformed for a day to perform four musical interactive performances, ‘A Soundtrack For A Day. ’

The sign directing us into the Sanctuary area read, ‘ Chill, go on ya will! ’ and the nine members from the Arts and Disability group took part in a sensory, interactive performance, creating a kaleidoscope of sound under the canopy of trees and surrounded by the cardboard and balloon beds from the Dorm project.

Under the musical direction of sound artist, Karl Burke; the nine performers played pan pipes, tin whistles, rustling paper and the dry rasping sound of stones rubbed together to evoke the spirits of wind and rain, which in no way dampened any of the festival spirits over the weekend at Temple House.

The audiences’ responses to the group were brilliant: an emotional and positive festival experience, where a temporal orchestra set within a forest created a unique soundscape; a magical setting and as one of the performers said afterwards, ‘I feel like a star for the day’.
‘This was a wonderful opportunity for us to perform in front of a welcoming crowd at a mainstream, national festival and it was great to be involved in a major festival,’ John Truelove from HSE.

Thanks to the staff of Temple House Festival for a great weekend and to our wonderful performers for sharing their musical talents, also to Ronan and John for the balloon and ‘wreckit’ Beds installation,

John Truelove from HSE, our Model staff onsite, sound artist Karl Burke and all the carers and family who made this ‘happening’ happen; see you all next year for an extended programme, more music and festival fun …..

Performers: Janet, Paul, Barry, Aisling, Celine, Michael John, Willie, Annie Joe and Ger.