Castlecomer will ignite in a celebration of literature, theatre, film and just general fun-for-all as the town hosts its third annual ‘Writers and Arts Festival’ this month.
The festival will launch on Friday, September 24 at the Thomas Coogan Library at 6.30pm, with a cheese and wine reception, readings by local writers and a special guest and a presentation of prizes for the children’s and young people’s competitions.
The launch will be followed by a traditional music night in The Vaults at 10.30pm and all are welcome.
A number of writing workshops will be held in the Community Hall on Saturday 25 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, including a poetry writing workshop hosted by Grace Wells, ‘writing your family history’ hosted by Dr Maire Downey, ‘how to get published’ by Siobhan Sims and writing for children by David O’Donoghue. The entry fee for the workshops is €5.
There will also be plenty of comedy and drama for patrons of the festival to soak up over the weekend with theatre performances in the Community Hall on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 at 8.30pm.
John Coogan and Backstreet Productions will deliver a performance of ‘Laundry and Bourbon’ while the Kilquan Players Productions will perform renditions of ‘Football Fever’, ‘Jimeen and the Gander’ and ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’.
The comedy and drama performaces at this year’s Castlecomer Writers and Arts Festival will be held in aid of Friends of Castlecomer Hospital and entry will be €10, or €5 for OAPs. For bookings call (056 ) 4441330.
This year’s festival will also include a movie element with a screening of Kilkenny’s own Oscar-nominated animated film, ‘The Secret of Kells’, in the Castlecomer Library.
The critically-acclaimed fantasy movie about young Brendan’s quest for enlightenment was not only the brainchild of local animator and director Tomm Moore, but was animated and produced by the Kilkenny-based production company Cartoon Saloon.
And of course there will be a wide range of art and photography on exhibition over the weekend, including an exhibit of the works of Tom Shelly in the Chatsworth Street Art Gallery as well as a photography and art exhibition in the Castlecomer Discovery Park.
The Black Diamond Poetry Competition is open to everyone who feels like writing a verse or thinks they have the talent. First prize is €500 with some cash prizes and highly commended certificates for runners-up. Prizes will be presented at 11am on the Saturday morning in the Castlecomer Discovery Park.
There will also be poetry and short-story competitions for primary school children, with prizes awarded to the three best poems and short-stories, and a poetry competition for secondary school students, with prizes awarded to the three best poems.
To add a little bit of extra fun to the festival, the Castlecomer ‘festival of fun for the children’ will take place in the Discovery Park on the Sunday, with a host of activities including a bouncy castle, face painting, fancy dress, stories in the wood, a treasure trail, pony rides and a barbeque with a finale featuring All Ireland Talent Show runners-up the Pyrothnicx Boy Band.
And due to the enormous success of last year’s Open Mic, another one will be hosted this year in Bollard’s Lounge Bar on the Saturday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm with compere Michael Hester. All are welcome.
