Clonmel’s Inaugural Plein Air

With the Suir Blueway running through it and built against the stunning backdrop of the Comeragh mountains, Clonmel awaits your discovery during our Plein Air on 4th and 5th July. Also within easy reach of the rich scenery and outstanding OPW sites in Carrick, Cahir and Cashel, we invite you to join us for Clonmel’s inaugural Plein Air. Come to Clonmel to paint and draw and enjoy the hospitality and cultural programme that the 2026 Clonmel Junction Arts Festival offers. Click here to find out more…

2025 Highlights

2026 Festival

Exchanges

Exploring Cultural Exchanges & Blended Cultures

Our festival theme for 2026 is ‘Exchanges’, exciting conversations about ourselves and our communities, exploring Cultural exchanges and blended cultures. Our brochure and full programme will be launched on Thursday 4th June with tickets for events going on sale on Friday 5th June but, in the meantime, keep an eye on our active social media for our build up to launch day as well as updates on our community development projects and other ways to be involved in the lead up to the festival (3rd to 12th July).

Rebecca Lenehan
Artistic Director

Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, Clonmel, County Tipperary

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The Clonmel Junction Arts Festival will be hosting an event for Bealtaine- Won’t Be Told!’ by Tumble Circus, presented in association with Age & Opportunity as part of the Bealtaine Festival, is a rebellious circus adventure that rages against the dying of the light. Their world is packed with wild acrobatics, absurd juggling, and hysterical comedy, all delivered with the fierce determination of performers who refuse to go quietly. This is circus with attitude, heart and a glorious refusal to behave. 👺🤡🤹🤸🎭 📆 Thursday 21st May 📍Junction Platform Showgrounds Shopping Centre 🕰️ 3:30pm @tumblecircus @showgroundssc @bealtainefestival #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #tumblecircus #bealtainefestival #circus
MANY LIFETIMES – SENIOR STORYTELLING PROJECT 📆Thursday 21st May 📍The Junction Platform Showgrounds shopping centre 🕰️6pm   The wisdom and humour of the dozen members of the Wednesday Group from the Clonmel Day Care Centre for the Elderly, will be shared in a performance entitled “Many Lifetimes” on 21st May at the Showgrounds Shopping Centre at 6pm, a collaboration with the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival as part of the Bealtine Festival - Ireland’s national celebration of the arts and ageing. Writers, Bea Conner-Peterson, Ethel Reynolds and Joe Whelan have created a 45-minute script/story with the assistance of senior volunteers to help in characterisation development based on their real-life experiences.  Three performers, Niamh Healy, James Acheson-Dennehy, and Jennifer Doyle will portray the characters developed by the project in an interactive theatricalevent.  “The project gives older adults a creative outlet while strengthening community, supporting memory, and honoring individual life stories,” said Bea Conner-Peterson, writer.  Clonmel Care Centre Manager, Kathleen Quinn said: “It has been great fun for the clients here at The Day Care to tell their stories. This project has boosted their confidence and has shown them that their life experiences are valued and important.”  The free event, which is open to the public, will take place at 6pm in The Platform at the Showgrounds Shopping Centre Clonmel. The event has limited seats so please email info@junctionfestival.com to make a reservation.  Rebecca Lenehan, Artistic Director of the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, said: “We’re delighted to offer Tipperary writers a platform to share their new work following weeks of collaboration with the Clonmel Day Care Centre. We’re really looking forward to hearing the stories gathered during this project brought to life by local actors – I’m sure they have some fantastic stories to tell.”  #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #storytelling #clonmelarts #bealtaine
Such an interesting talk by Rutuja Kulkarni yesterday - with lots of questions by an enthralled audience. So wonderful to see her beautiful work up close and to hear how she works. We all took her positive outlook and her recommendation to draw/paint/create for 15 minutes a day away with us - something that is so achievable in even the busiest of lives. Thank you @rutuja.watercolorist 🥰🎨🖌️ #watercolourart #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmel #meettheartist
Thank you to Kate Somerville for a wonderful afternoon workshop exploring movement and creativity at the Junction Platform, such an insightful experience and well enjoyed by all involved! #clonmeljunctionfestival #cjaf26 #workshop #clonmel
The Horse of Jenin by Alaa Shehada 🐴 The Horse of Jenin, written and performed by Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada, tells a universal story. It is about a boy growing up in Jenin, but like every child in the world, he most wants to play and have fun. It is a story about the resilience that imagination brings. In April 2002, a major invasion took place in Jenin. In the aftermath, a German artist came over for an art workshop. After four weeks, with the help of 15 Palestinians, he unveiled the result. He had built a horse as tall as 5 metres out of metal fragments, debris from the bombing. They rode the horse through the city and everyone was proud of it, people felt lifted by it. The horse is an Arabic symbol of freedom, but this horse was also a symbol of peaceful resistance. It was a symbol of resilience. Last November, an Israeli bulldozer entered the camp and the horse was removed.  In this solo, Alaa wonders: what happened to the horse? Was it arrested? Did it go to court? Was he able to defend himself? Did they put him in jail? Was the horse interrogated? And did it then tell about the day Alaa tried to ride the horse with his best friend Ahmed?  With this solo, Alaa builds a new horse, constructed from the fragments of his memories supplemented with a huge dose of humour and imagination. A theatrical symbol of resistance and imagination. The performance is an ode to the power of imagination and the value of playing freely. ★★★★★ | The Guardian. “A funny, haunting coming-of-age tale of boyhood in occupied Palestine” “This is a production that chooses to find joy amid horror.” “Shehada is very funny and full of energy...” ★★★★★ | The Scotsman “A terrific tale of Palestinian life, laughter and tragedy under unimaginable pressure.” ★★★★★ | British Theatre Guide “...one of the most important shows at this year’s Edinburgh festival.” Presented in association with @earagailartsfestival @cairdefestival . Principally funded by the Arts Council and Tipperary County Council Tickets go on sale on junctionfestival.com on 5th June @tipperarycoco @artscouncilireland
What a fantastic turnout this afternoon for Emerging Voices Exhibition with @cbs.highschool.clonmel A huge thanks to everyone involved 🙌🏼🎨 #emergingvoices #artexhibitions #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmelarts
Call into the Junction Platform this afternoon to see the Emerging Voices Exhibition with @cbs.highschool.clonmel 🎨 #art #artexhibitions #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #clonmel
The Mask Project – Clonmel Junction Arts Festival Supported by Creative Ireland 👺🎭 @creativeireland @creativeirelandtipperary Cork-based visual artist Tom Campbell is returning to Junction Festival to lead The Mask Project — a community engagement project centred on making large-scale papier-mâché masks and performing with them. It builds on last year’s hugely popular 100 Dogs Project. 🐾🐾🐾 What’s involved: Workshops cover both making and performing with the masks. Completed masks will form a Showgrounds Shopping Centre exhibition during the festival, with a street performance finale on Saturday 11th July. Who it’s for: Schools, community groups, and the general public (suitable for ages 10+). TUS students also have work experience opportunities involved. Key dates: • Workshops: 5th June – 27th June at The Platform, Unit 12A, Showgrounds Shopping Centre • Public drop-in Saturdays: 6th – 27th June • Performance workshops: 7th – 10th July • Street performance: Saturday 11th July • Festival runs: 3rd – 12th July How to apply / get involved: 📧 Schools & community groups: email info@junctionfestival.com to book workshops 📱 Public drop-ins: follow social media for full details 🌐 junctionfestival.com @tomcampbellart @showgroundssc @creativeireland #creativeireland #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #workshops #tomcampbell
Free. Creative. Thursday. 🙌 Kate Somerville’s Empowering Creativity taster session is on 7th May, 3–4pm at The Platform, Showgrounds. Call or message Kate to grab a spot 👉 087 718 5309 #cjaf26 #clonmeljunctionfestival #creativeworkshop #clonmel
A huge congrats to Karl Clancy on the launch of Once There Was A Boy… today! 🐻📖 Today at 2pm at A Place for You, Gladstone st. @litlgudwolf #booklaunch #poetry #childrensbooks #clonmel
Meet the artist No.4 🎨✨ Join us for an informal chat with the talented Rutuja Kulkarni as she discusses her recent work! 🗓️Thursday 7th May 🕰️6–7pm 📍The Platform, Showgrounds Shopping Centre. Free and open to all — come along and be inspired! #ClonmelJunctionArtsFestival #Clonmel #CJAF26 #MeetTheArtist
Join us at The Junction Platform for our Emerging Voices Art Exhibition developed in collaboration with CBS Highschool, Offering young local artists a platform to share their work.🎨 🗓️Thursday 30th April, 🕰️1.30pm - 3pm 📍 @showgroundssc #artexhibitions #youngartists #cjaf26 #clonmel #clonmeljunctionfestival
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