CARDIGAN came alive to the sounds of the ‘Other Voices’ festival last week with the promise of more to come in future years.

More than 2,000 tickets were sold for the event, with a series of intimate gigs performed throughout the town and visitor numbers to Cardigan on a par with the height of the summer season.

The headline performances at St Mary’s were simultaneously broadcast live to screens in and around the town to complement the gigs at other selected venues, ranging from Cardigan Castle and Theatre Mwldan to Crwst and Bara Menyn.

In addition to the live performances from Welsh and Irish musicians, audiences at Other Voices Cardigan also had the chance to attend the Clebran sessions at the Guildhall to listen in on a series of informal conversations which discussed today's burning issues and explored further the common ground between Wales and Ireland in a rapidly shifting political landscape.

The town was busy with locals and visitors alike, with both Cardigan’s day-time and night-time economy receiving a significant boost.

Cardigan Traders chairman Martin Radley said: “It is great to see the town so busy and people in the shops and cafes.

“Hopefully, people who have never visited Cardigan before will like what they see and come back in the future.”

One visitor, who was attending the Matthew Frederick gig at Bara Menyn, said: “It is fantastic that a town the size of Cardigan can stage an event such as this. I am really impressed and thoroughly enjoying my time here.”

Other Voices Cardigan was presented in partnership with Cardigan’s Theatr Mwldan and Triongl and Mwldan's chief executive Dilwyn Davies said: "We've been absolutely overwhelmed by the warm and positive response we've had both from visitors and artists taking part who have been effusive about the welcome they've had locally and how well they've been looked after.

"Some 58 performances took place overall, nine in St Mary's Church, and 49 on the Music Trail around town.

"We've witnessed some incredible performances this weekend in intimate environments as well as in the glorious setting of St Mary's Church, and been treated to some very positive and thought-provoking Clebran sessions in the fantastic setting of Cardigan's historic Guildhall. We've had a fantastic weekend of musical discovery in unusual places, and we hope everyone has found some gems.

"It's been a real honour to share such a positive cultural exchange with our Irish cousins, and the Other Voices team have been welcomed right into the heart of the local community. We're hugely grateful to our funders at Welsh Government and Irish Government, without whom this event would not be possible, and we look forward to seeing some of the events on-screen on S4C in the New Year.

"We owe huge thanks to our incredible host venues all around Cardigan for their enthusiasm and support for this event, and the cafes, restaurants and pubs who have kept everyone well-fed and looked after. We must also thank the local businesses who so generously donated prizes to help create the buzz and showcase everything our town has to offer in the run-up.

"This event has been no small feat to pull together logistically, and we're so grateful for the faith everyone has placed in us to deliver a complicated and ambitious event in a very short space of time.

"We're already working on Other Voices 2020, and we're full of optimism to be able to repeat this fantastic experience next year."

Philip King, founder of Other Voices, added: “It’s been a long and cherished ambition of Other Voices to collaborate with our Welsh neighbours with whom we share so much, creatively and culturally. Our shared belief is that our collaboration will be of great benefit and advantage to both Dingle and Cardigan, Ireland and Wales.”