Macroom Mountain Dew Festival was a music festival in Ireland, which was held between 1976 and 1982. Taking place in the grounds of a 19th-century castle in County Cork,[1] it is considered to have been the first rock festival in Ireland.[2][3]
| Macroom Mountain Dew Festival | |
|---|---|
 Macroom Castle, site of most of the Mountain Dew festivals | |
| Genre | Rock |
| Dates | Typically late June or July |
| Location(s) | Macroom Castle, Macroom, County Cork, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 51°54′19″N 8°57′44″W / 51.90517°N 8.96229°W |
| Years active | 1976–1982 |
| Attendance | Up to 20,000 |
History edit
The festival is named for Macroom's reputation as a centre for production of poitín ("mountain dew").[4] Its organisation was spearheaded by publican and undertaker John Martin Fitz-Gerald, who approached Rory Gallagher’s brother and manager, Donal, about staging the open air concert.[5]
| Year | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 |
| Venue | Macroom GAA | Macroom Castle | Macroom Castle | Macroom Castle | a site 1 mile outside Macroom town | Coolcower House[6] | |
| Main acts |
References edit
- ^ "Music festival returns to Macroom after 40 years". Cork Independent. April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Macroom's 'Mountain Dew' was Ireland's first rock festival". Irish Examiner. July 11, 2016.
- ^ "RORY AND HERMAN". October 2, 2019.
- ^ "Illicit vodka operation uncovered in Cork". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b "Recalling when one brave little town decided to host Ireland's first rock festival". The Southern Star.
- ^ "Recalling when one brave little town decided to host Ireland's first rock festival".
- ^ "Book marks 40th year of Macroom Mountain Dew Festival". The Irish Times.
- ^ "How Macroom rocked Ireland during the 1970s". Independent.ie. December 31, 2021.
- ^ "Ireland's first open air rock festival. Grounds of Macroom Castle Co Cork .June 26th 1977". March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Rory Gallagher - Poster for the Macroom Mountain Dew Festival on this day in 1978. | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
- ^ Crowley, Roz (31 August 2020). "#VanMorrisson75 at Macroom Mountain Dew Festival 1980. Great pics as usual from @EddieOHare1 @irishexaminer. It's a marvelous night..." Twitter.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Eric (November 7, 2013). "Van Morrison's Guitar Man Dave Keary: From Tuesday Blue to Astral Weeks". Limerick Post Newspaper.
- ^ "Mike Oldfield Setlist at Macroom Castle, Macroom". setlist.fm.
- ^ "20 unforgettable festival memories". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Irish Independent, June 29, 1981 - The Elvis Costello Wiki". www.elviscostello.info.