Today it is the pre-eminent arts organisation in Clonmel, providing a platform for regional and national artists, the infrastructure to develop a body of professional arts workers in the town, and a hub for national and international artists to share space and ideas with a large urban town at the heart of a rural hinterland.
A multi-disciplinary Arts Festival, Junction celebrates the town of Clonmel and the talented artists who live and work here. The ‘junction’ of the title refers to bringing people together: audiences and artists, local and international companies, town and country.
In 2023, we will have our biggest festival in years, with 2 hub venues on Clonmel's new Civic Plaza, featuring a range of theatre, music, dance, literature and more, as we celebrate a full return to live performances, bringing the best of local and regional art together with exciting national and international work to audiences.
CJAF is a curated festival, with a series of Open Calls for artists of all disciplines to perform and create with the festival. We proudly champion artists living and working in Tipperary, and are interested in anyone with a professional arts practice who wants to discuss their development with us. Click here for up-to-date information.
As an organisation with a small administrative team, we do not accept unsolicited applications that do not come through our Open Call process.
John has a BA in Fine Art from Crawford College of Art and Design and is a practicing painter working from his studio in Clonmel. He is currently participating in a post graduate correspondence course in Painting and Professional Practice through Turps School in London. He also has a BA in Quality Management & Technology from IT Sligo and works as a Project Manager/Manufacturing Engineer at Abbott Vascular Clonmel. John is immersed in the visual arts and exhibits his work regularly through solo and group exhibitions around the country, and has also curated group exhibitions. His most recent exhibition was the group show Out Building at Source Arts Centre.
Originally from Belfast Deirdre has lived in Clonmel for the last 20 years where she works for a pharmaceutical company. Both Deirdre’s father and brother were actors and her sister had an art gallery in Belfast: this has given her an active interest in both the visual and performing arts for many years. Deirdre has enjoyed many a memorable performance at the Junction Festival over the years and was delighted to join the Board in 2017.
Jimmy is a former AIB Branch Manager who has lived inClonmel since 1999. A native of Birr, Co. Offaly, he has over 40 yearsexperience in the financial services sector. He is currently a self employedBusiness Mentor working with Local Enterprise Offices in Tipperary,Kilkenny and Waterford, among other business interests. Jimmy has a keeninterest in music and cinema and is a current member of Clonmel Rugby FootballClub choir. He has been a supporter of the Junction Festival since itsinception in 2001 and enjoys the creativity involved in live theatreperformances.
Owner of Curtains & Blinds since 1981, a former President of Clonmel Lion's Club, a member of the Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club and a past President of Clonmel Chamber of Commerce, Ricky has sponsored and been a fan of the Festival since its inception. He is looking forward to bringing another successful Festival to the town in 2022.
Áine Ryan is a solicitor with Binchy Law Solicitors, Clonmel. Originally from Newport, Co. Tipperary, Áine has lived and worked in Clonmel for 25 years. Áine has a great interest in the Arts and particularly enjoys attending theatre and live music events. Áine joined the Board in 2020.
Bess ran a music venue for 20 years in Clonmel. She has always had a keen interest in the arts and has been an active member of the Board of Directors.
Mark Hanratty, a technical manager, moved to Clonmel almost 30 years ago to work in Bulmer's, where he spent 21 years. He has attended many arts events in the area since then, taking a particularly keen interest in visual arts, music and comedy. He is a previous Chairman of the board of South Tipperary Arts Centre, and former board member of Clonmel Chamber of Commerce. He has been attending the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival since its foundation in 2001 and was delighted at the return of live events for the 2022 festival.
Shannon Forrest is Co-Founder of Rivesci and also hosts NeighbourFood Clonmel from their HQ in Irishtown. Shannon believes in giving back to the community in which we live, work and thrive in, and is delighted to have been asked to join the Board in 2022. Previously a volunteer at CJAF in 2014, Shannon looks forward to being an active Board member. The Arts are very close to her heart and she can often be seen at many and myriad gigs, poetry readings, exhibitions and much more. With a BA (Hons) Marketing, her career has been mainly in Retail, Tourism and most recently the Food industry, where adapting to ever changing environments keeps her on her toes.
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