Allingham Festival launches this weekend
The annual Allingham Arts Festival launches officially this weekend with a gig from singer, songwriter & comedian Little John Nee at the Thatch in Ballyshannon.
The 2019 Festival will bring artwork and poetry, journalism, comedy and drama to Ballyshannon.
From November 6th thru 10th, Allingham Festival attractions will include:
- A Tribute to Donegal playwright Frank McGuinness. The Allingham Arts Association will sponsor two performances of his play The Bread Man, plus tributes by the playwright’s friends and colleagues. RTE broadcaster Seán Rocks will also interview Frank McGuinness on Saturday afternoon.
- The Allingham Lecture will be delivered by journalist and activist Eamonn McCann, author of War and Peace in Northern Ireland. His Allingham topic: “Power and the People”
- Annemarie Ní Churreáin, writer-in-residence at Maynooth, will lead a Friday afternoon poetry reading and judge the Allingham Poetry Competition.
- Illustrator and former Children’s Laureate PJ Lynch will lead an art workshop for a cross-border group of primary school students from Belleek and Ballyshannon. He will also speak to local artists on his career as an illustrator and designer.
- Olive Travers, a frequent contributor to RTE’s Sunday Miscellany programme, will lead “Sketching with Words”, a workshop on Conscious Creativity. She will also host a presentation by well-known gardener Brendan Little – “From Chelsea to Ballyshannon” – about the classic gardens that were painted by Helen Allingham.
- Comedian Kevin McAleer will share his unique views on mindfulness and other unlikely topics in the Allingham Concert on Saturday evening.
- Documentary filmmaker Garry Keane will host a screening of his hard-hitting film Gaza, followed by a Q&A with the director.
- History Ireland Hedge School: ‘Mobilise the poets’ – Art & Culture in the Irish Revolution How did the arts (literature, film, the visual arts, music and song) affect the Irish Revolution? How did the Revolution affect the arts? Join History Ireland editor Tommy Graham for a wide-ranging discussion with Paul Delaney (literature), Ciara Chambers (film), Roisín Kennedy (visual arts) and Fintan Vallely (music & song).
- A Wardrobe Makeover Workshop — Wardrobe detoxing and advice on personal style with Mary Kelly-Reid.
Other popular Festival events will include:
- Family Film: The 1973 Disney cartoon Robin Hood
- Children’s Writing and Art Awards
- The Literary Lunch, including the Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Awards
- Plus arts and crafts workshops, book launches, and a performance by the outstanding new musical group Hatchlings
Booking recommended for all events, including free events, to insure availability of seating. For the full Festival Programme and on-line booking, see the 2019 Allingham Festival website www.allinghamfestival.com.
