All Together Now in Waterford to create link to Palestine with 'Great Oven' event

Since its inception in 2019, 'The Great Oven' initiative has been forging giant community ovens, installing them in refugee camps, conflict zones and informal settlements across Lebanon and South Africa.

This year, the intent is to expand to the West Bank.

Artists have been collaborating all year to construct two Great Ovens that will be decorated at IMMA, Irish Museum of Modern Art and unveiled at All Together Now 2025.

Guests will find the ovens at The Great Oven Disco Cantina at All Together Now this year, where festivalgoers can dance, dine and support the journey of a Great Oven to Palestine.

Leading the Disco Cantina’s culinary experience is Middle Eastern eatery, Tang who are shutting all their Dublin sites for the weekend to send their team to host this gastronomic experience at Curraghmore.

Once a day, 100 diners will be given the opportunity to attend a DJ Banquet where special guests will perform a show at the cantina.

The rest of the day Tang will be serving up a BBQ feast with freshly made Saj bread, all cooked live.

Bringing the disco is Palestinian radio station Radio Alhara.

From day to night, DJs from Palestine and across the Middle East, along with renowned Irish and international acts will perform.

When the festival closes this year, the voyage of these Great Ovens begins.

One will make its way to Palestine, where it will be housed at the Wonder Cabinet, a creative hub in the West Bank.

The other will find its home at Dalymount Park, Bohemian Football Club’s ground.

"These twin ovens will nourish communities, honour shared struggle and will create a cultural bridge between Ireland and Palestine where recipes, art, music and solidarity will be shared for generations to come," said festival organisers, of the initiative.