Anthony O’Flynn, Pauline McGann, Irene O’Leary, Rebecca Doyle, Robert Gerard, Oonagh Heffernan, Pat Kent and Orla Doyle pictured at the launch of the Waves Music Festival in Loftus Hall. Pic: John Walsh

A NEW music festival has been officially launched in Wexford.

The Waves Music Festival will take place on August 18 and will feature Irish country star, Nathan Carter, as the headline act. He will be joined on the day by local legends, Cornerboy, and Wexford’s, Elmore, with at least one other act due to be confirmed over the coming weeks.

The event is being organised to raise money for Fethard RNLI as it plans to purchase a new state-of-the-art inshore lifeboat.

At Thursday’s launch those in attendance were told the festival will be a family themed day-long music event.

Fethard RNLI has to raise €65,000 for the new boat which will be put into service towards the end of 2017.

A spokesperson for the organising committee commented to the Echo: “A further act is set to be announced in the next few weeks which will be cause a great deal of excitement among the teenage audience, ensuring that the day appeals to all the family.”

In addition the RNLI in conjunction with Beat will be providing the opportunity for one lucky artist within the south east to perform live and kick off the festival on the Sunday.
Momentum Events have joined forces with the Fethard RNLI fundraising team and will create a dedicated family kids area within one of the walled gardens.

“This will allow a secure play area for the full family to enjoy,” said the spokesperson.

The owner of Loftus Hall, Aidan Quigley, also commented on the event and expressed delight that it will be staged at the historic landmark venue.

“Loftus Hall is delighted to support the RNLI and offer our unique and unusual venue for the event,” he said.

Fethard RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer, Rebecca Doyle, said the event will be a first-of-its-kind for the organisation.

“The Waves music festival is the first [event of its type] the RNLI has undertaken in the South East and it is a huge privilege for us to be given this opportunity,” she said.

The festival will have a capacity for up to 5,000 people and it will be staged at a purpose built site.

“We are particularly thrilled to have an artist of the calibre of Nathan Carter play,” said Ms. Doyle.

“Nathan has a huge following in Ireland and his shows have been packing out venues across the country,” she added.

“This festival has its roots in a great cause – saving lives at sea and supporting the work of the charity on the south-east coast.”

The gates will open at 11 a.m. and concert will finish at 8 p.m. Tickets for the day-long event are priced €25 and €85 for a family of four.

For more information log onto www.wavesfestival.ie