At a packed-out Station House Theatre in Clifden last week, the Connemara community paid tribute to Dr Brendan Flynn who has driven the Clifden Arts Festival into its 47th year.
The two-hour meeting, organised and hosted by Connemara Chamber of Commerce, involved local music, dance and a series of speakers from different aspects of Connemara life, including from the spheres of education, business, religion, arts and music.
Dr Flynn received several presentations during the event which includes a framed letter from the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, a specially commissioned sculpture, and a framed photo of the overwhelming words of thanks from the community.
The main presentation was a bronze sculpture by John Behan especially commissioned by Connemara Chamber of Commerce for Dr Flynn.
A letter was read out from President Higgins praising Dr Flynn’s "exemplary contributions to the educational, cultural, and economic vitality of Connemara".
Forty-seven years on, Clifden Arts Festival claims to be the longest-running community arts festival in Ireland. Over the years it has hosted luminaries such as Mary Robinson, Seamus Heaney, John McGahern, Edna O'Brien, Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood, Christy Moore, Maeve Binchy and Glen Hansard.
Dr Flynn received a standing ovation at the event.
