ALLINGHAM FESTIVAL PRE-LAUNCH EVENT
A “spirited” exchange between the ghosts of William Allingham and Mrs Georgina (“George”) Yeats highlighted the Pre-Launch of the 2015 Allingham Festival in Ballyshannon's Market House Pub on Friday, 16 October. William, incarnated by Terence McEneany, promised to promote gender balance in the annual festival of “Inspiring Creativity / Engaging Enterprise.”
Festival Art Director Padraic Lynch reminded the Pre-Launch crowd that as a result of last year's Allingham Festival, five students from North West Ireland were awarded paid internships to work at SpinVFX in Toronto, the special-effects firm that creates imagery for Game of Thrones and many films.
Festival organisers previewed the personalities of the November programme including Ballyshannon's Mark Boyle (“The Moneyless Man”), poets Jessica Traynor and Jane Clarke, travel writer Manchán Magan, and special-effects guru Wes Sewell. Workshops for adults and children will provide hands-on experience with new and traditional crafts, new materials, digital storytelling, art, and writing.
The 2015 Festival also revives the Allingham Songwriting Competition on Friday 6 Nov in Dicey Reilly's Pub. Winners will perform at the Allingham Concert on Saturday, along with Donegal's rising musical star Chanele McGuinness and the Inishowen musical group Great White Lies.
According to Festival Chair Tom Sigafoos, “The Allingham is a great mix of tradition – the art and writing awards, the Hedge School, the Sunday recitations in the Thatch – and the newest developments in creative careers. Add in the Irish films, radio documentaries, and Festival Clubs, and everyone will find something of interest in November.”
The 2015 Allingham Festival runs from November 5-6-7-8. Programmes and bookings are available at the Abbey Centre and on-line at www.allinghamfestival.com.