Record crowds attend special 40th Goldsmith Festival weekend in Longford and Westmeath

Oliver Goldsmith is a reminder that change and evolution has always been part of Irish society, Tánaiste Micheál Martin stated as he officially opened the 40th Goldsmith Literary Festival of south Longford and south Westmeath.

The Fianna Fáil leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence told a very large gathering at The Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, that the 18th century literary figure could see educational, economic and political change taking place before him and anticipated much more to come.

“For Goldsmith the objective of rural life was not to retain everything, or to change everything, his work resonated and still resonates because it envisaged rural communities which continue to develop while respecting their traditions.

“During his years as a student, and then during his travels, he was deeply interested in understanding wider European society and culture – critically he saw himself as being part of that society and culture and saw Ireland and Britain within this European context.

“His writing was deeply informed by European ideas and themes. His satires on class attitudes and absurdities amused audiences well beyond these islands.

“It is hard to avoid thinking of this today in the middle of a campaign for members of the European Parliament.

“From the earliest recorded history through to today, Irish culture and identity has always been strengthened when it engages actively and positively with the wider European context.

“No nation, let alone a small one on the edge of a large continent, can expect to succeed and thrive by standing alone. No culture can survive and evolve if it tries to seal itself off,” he said.

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The Tánaiste added that Goldsmith also reminds us of the diversity of Irish identity.

“One of our great strengths as a society is how there have always been many different strands to Irish culture and identity.

“The Protestant community which Goldsmith came from has consistently made unique and positive contributions both at home and in introducing Ireland to a wider world.

“The protection of Celtic archeological treasures, the revival of traditional music, the production of the Irish language printed works, these and many other activities were led by the Church of Ireland community.

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“During Goldsmith’s wanderings in Europe he often relied upon Irish monasteries for shelter. He and they saw nothing unusual in the son of a Church of Ireland cleric turning to Catholics for aid at times of need – both understood that their Irish connection came first.”

Mr Martin congratulated the organisers for maintaining one of Ireland’s longest running literary festivals and for delivering a diverse and engaging programme for its 40th year.

“This festival makes a very valuable contribution to presenting Longford and Westmeath to the wider world as a destination for tourism, but it also plays a vital role as a community activity bringing so many people together.

“Two and a half centuries after his death, Goldsmith’s brilliant last decade of work remains an important Irish cultural landmark.

“Led by a community where he was born, and joined in support and contributions from far and wide, this festival is a fitting tribute to one of Ireland’s greatest literary figures.”

PICTURES | Huge crowds in Longford to reflect on the life of acclaimed novelist, playwright and poet Oliver Goldsmith

In her keynote address award-winning journalist of The Irish Times and author of new book ‘An Eye on Ireland’ Justine McCarthy also offered her reflection on a transformative period in Irish life over the last four decades.

“I feel lucky to work as a journalist through some of the most momentous events and defining changes in our country, the darkest of them all was The Troubles in Northern Ireland and they spread beyond, followed by the brightest with the slow dropping of peace.

“What I have learned from reporting on Ireland over decades is that the people of Ireland are brave and they are change makers.

“It is those individuals that have put trust in people like me to tell their harrowing stories who have compelled us as a country to recognise our wrongdoings and to fix them.

“The innocent people of awful tragedies or wickedness or cruel circumstance, they are the greatest heroes I know.

“As a journalist I am their conduit because often time the only way for them to expose the truth and to achieve the vindication they are entitled to is by telling their stories. By doing that they change our world, and they make it better. These are stories that made us what we are, we cannot allow them to be twisted or manipulated or worse to be silenced in our age of misinformation and propaganda. All writers have an obligation to keep telling it as it is,” she said.

Pre-eminent Goldsmith scholar Prof Michael Griffin of the University of Limerick told the audience of the important need to secure future interest in Goldsmith’s writings for new generations of readers.

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“As we are in the 250th year of his death and the 40th anniversary of this festival, it allows us the time to assess what Goldsmith means to us. There is a vital need to continue to reassess his work constantly and to see how he can still speak to us on our contemporary issues," he said.

Several other leading academics of 18th century literature including Prof Ian Campbell Ross and Prof Aileen Douglas both of Trinity College Dublin and Dr James Ward of the University of Ulster illuminated this message in their lecture contributions at the Goldsmith Library in Ballymahon on Saturday.

A packed bus of countrywide Goldsmith enthusiasts also participated in the literary tour of Goldsmith Country which visited The Three Jolly Pigeons, the Old Schoolhouse, Lissoy Parsonage, Kilkenny-West Church, and the Hawthorn Bush among many other famous sites.

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A huge crowd also attended a specially written and produced play called “The Misadventures of Oliver Goldsmith” by Michael J Ford performed in The Bog Lane Theatre and Skelly’s Courtyard over the weekend.

Contributors John Casey, Robin Baird, Niall Nally, Denis Glennon, and Sean Ryan also delivered fascinating contributions as part of the Goldsmith Miscellany event alongside musical accompaniment.

The festival ended with Poetry at Pallas at Goldsmith’s birthplace where dozens of pupils from primary schools in Westmeath and Longford received prizes and certificates for poems they entered in the Goldsmith Children’s Poetry Competition adjudicated by poet Mary Melvin-Geoghegan.

Charlie Flanagan of Empor NS won 1st prize, 2nd place went to Kathryn Kiernan of Empor NS, and third place went to Muhammad Issa Tariq of Tubberclair NS.

The first prize winner of the Goldsmith Adult Poetry Competition, adjudicated by poet Eugene O’Connell, was Glen Wilson of Portadown, 2nd prize winner was Frank Farrelly of Waterford. Aidan Casey was also presented with an award for his Highly Commended entry.

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Bringing the 40th Goldsmith Festival to a close, chairperson Arthur Conlon said: "This year we organised eight separate events and every one of them has been a rip-roaring success. We had brilliant crowds at the different events and we really encourage you to come along again next year.

"We are very grateful for the tremendous support from Longford and Westmeath county councils and from Nally Brothers in Ballymahon. I want to give a huge thanks to our dedicated committee too for all their hard work. Here's to another 40 years of the Goldsmith Festival."