Book your workshops and seminars now. Something for everyone at #allingham2015: https://allingham.eventbrite.co.uk
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.
The shortlists for the Allingham 2015 Flash Fiction and Poetry Awards have been announced. Winners will be announced in the next seven days. Congratulations to all who participated, and best of luck to all in the future.
POETRY SHORTLIST
And what, Miss Kennan, are you planning to do with your hair?
Catching Me
Cicadas at Nages
Elements
First the Feathers
Prelude
Sourdough
Sunday Night
The Fig Tree
The Hare
The Home Place
The Photograph
FLASH FICTION SHORTLIST
An Uncommon Occurrence
Dog Tags
Evening
Lavender Days
Leftovers
Queen
The Failed Escape
The Girl by the River
The Homemade Harness
These Ordinary Nights
This is Unravel
Viennese Whirls and Pineapple Creams
Worm
You are cordially invited to the Allingham 2015 pre-Festival launch this Friday, 16th October at 8:00pm in the Market House Pub in Ballyshannon. The event will include a preview of this year's Festival programme, plus a raffle, music and food, and a spectral appearance by William Allingham himself. For more information see www.allinghamfestival.com
We are now into the last 24 hours for receiving entries to the Songwriting Contest. We have received entries from all around the country, and we sincerely hope to be able to proceed with the competition. This final 24 hours is crucial in deciding the fate of the competition. If you know anyone who may be interested, encourage them to enter the competition, even if that means they are competing against you. More competition is better than no competition!