THE HEALTH of the nation is a dominant theme at this year’s Galway International Arts Festival’s First Thought talks series, which features public interviews with three leading doctors.
Two of the main speakers at this year’s First Thoughts strand will be Dr Michael J Dowling, the Limerick man who is now CEO of one of the USA’s largest health care systems, and Briton Dr Gabriel Weston, a surgeon and presenter of the BBC series Trust Me I’m A Doctor.
Both doctors will take part in public interviews in NUI Galway’s Aula Maxima on Saturday July 19. Dr Dowling will be interviewed at 12 noon, and Dr Weston at 4pm.
In Taking the National Temperature, Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, the HSE’s national director for health and well-being will discuss how people’s health impacts on their happiness and lives. This talk will also be in the Aula Maxima on July 19, at 2pm.
The Guardian’s drama critic, Michael Billington, will conduct public interviews, with Walter Asmus, renowned director of Beckett’s plays (Hotel Meyrick, Sunday 20, 4pm ); and Nicholas Hytner, artistic director of the National Theatre, London (Town Hall Theatre, Sunday 20, 5pm ).
Welsh-born Dublin-based designer Annie Atkins, who did graphics and design for Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel will discuss her work in the Aula Maxima, NUI G, on Sunday 20, at 4pm. Props from Grand Budapest Hotel will be on display.
The Enduring Appeal of the MixTape features actor Cillian Murphy and Fractured Air bloggers Mark and Craig Carry in conversation with The Irish Times’ Tony Clayton-Lea, at the Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane, Sunday 20 at 4pm.
The festival runs from July 14 to 27. To book tickets go to www.giaf.ie
