The Franciscan Friars in Multyfarnham have been invited to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet the President on Thursday November 26 to help launch a week long arts festival at the friary at the end of November.
The Friars only received the news last week that they and all the artists participating in the event, which kicks off on November 27 to help
celebrate 800 years of the Order, had a special invitation to the President's pad in Phoenix Park.
Fr Joe Walsh OFM said: “This is a great start to our arts and music festival and hopefully will help make more people aware of it so they come along and enjoy the music, dance, performance and art which will all be on show at various times through the week.
“I urge people to check out our website www.strayingclosertomulty for details and would like to personally thank President Mary McAleese for inviting us to meet her.”
The event will include a much anticipated work of art from Fr Joe depicting sexual abuse in the church which he describes as “a visual response to the Ryan Report”. Finishes touches are being put to the work now and all will be revealed at a grand unveiling to open the show.
Entitled Straying Closer to the Truth the free to all exhibition promises to offer something for everyone and will boast contributions from artists,
writers, performers, photographers and even carpenters who have taken part in the Multy Residency Programme since its inception.
The week-long art extravaganza will include everything from visual performances to poetry readings to discussions with the public and Friars on the role of art in spirituality. Workshops will also be run free of charge for both adults and children. Schools who would like to book places on workshops should call (086 ) 7732023 or log on to www.strayingclosertomulty.ie
Children across the country will also have the opportunity to participate in the exhibition through a competition inviting them to submit their artwork depicting what God means to young people. All entries will actually be on display during the entire week.
On top of that, as the Franciscan Order is currently celebrating its 800th anniversary, some very rare artifacts and manuscripts will be on display from its long history.
Concerts in the church are also scheduled with performers to be revealed at a later stage.
To find out more about the exhibition which opens on November 27 including how to enter the children's competition, visit www.strayingclosertomulty.ie
