All Together Now - First Impressions

A leisurely stroll around the ATN site before the whole thing kicks off. Pat Carty samples the bill o' fare

Curraghmore House, historic home of the 9th Marquis of Waterford, is located a leisurely twenty minutes drive from Waterford city. The 2,500 acres of gardens and woodland would make a for a delightful stroll any day of the year, but land a brand new arts and music large-scale hooley on it, and it becomes a grand prospect altogether.

A lithe young Stuart Clark and myself took a saunter about to familiarise ourselves with the layout. You enter by a gentle downward gradient towards the grand pond in front of the old house, circle about past the giant fox head, to a veritable village of delights. On one side, A Taste Of Waterford, offering the myriad culinary delights of the Crystal County, on the other, not one but two stages to feed the mind, after the body has been attended to. All Curious Minds offer a stage for writers and spoken word, one resembles a fabulous gentleman's club, the other a country kitchen.

From Vegan Sushi Rolls to Grilled Cheese from West Cork, from Ketel One Vodka to Dungarvin brewed beer, it was a struggle for young Clark and I to tear ourselves away, but there was a job to be done. Past the Band Stand, the Gin Bar, Artisan Donuts (!), Wacky Hats, The Bearded Lady Beauty Parlour, through the food lane, past a massive Stag's Head - this made me unaccountably thirsty - towards a reclaimed spaceship. On one side, an inflatable church with a limbo line already in full swing. Further to our left, The Something Kind Of Wonderful stage - Ghostpoet later - ahead of us The Road To Nowhere tent - The Black Madonna in the middle of the night. Swing further to the right to enter the main arena. In a few short hours, you too can see Carty and Clark throw shapes that will surely thrill to Chaka Bloody Khan!

The whole thing is an absolute delight, and the good weather, as it rarely is, is no hindrance either. If you're on the road, put your foot a little closer to the floor, if you're sitting on the fence, buy that ticket and get moving, if you're already here, have a ball.