Massive offering of events for Longford's Maria Edgeworth Festival

This year’s Maria Edgeworth Festival of Literature, Arts and Movement was officially announced at a Press Launch held in the Community Library, Edgeworthstown on Tuesday, April 22.

This year, the committee has gone all out to expand the festival, with the inclusion of new events such as fashion in the lifetime of Maria Edgeworth, yoga, lace-making and 18th century dance. A pop-up bookshop and talk on the artist Harry Kernoff are also additional events that reflect a wider scope of interest and diversity to complement this very popular annual festival.

Edgeworthstown has a long tradition of connections with Trinity College Dublin, dating back over three hundred years. On Friday, May 9 the Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, Dr. Linda Doyle, will give an address. Dr. Doyle will discuss the role the university plays in Irish and International education, and the advances that have been made over these three hundred years.

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Art, storytelling, poetry, short story writing and yoga workshops provide a wide range of creative activities, enhanced by the inclusion of a Carrickmacross lace-making workshop. This year, the facilitators are Angela Tuite, Steve Lally, Lani O’Hanlon, Triona Walsh, Marta Pasieczny and Catherine McEnroe.

Local Drama group The Mostrim Youth Theatre will present a medley of sketches to showcase their talent.

At Co:Worx, set in the heart of Edgeworthstown, the Midlands Art Exhibition will be officially opened by Shane Crossan, Acting Arts Officer at Longford County Council. This will be followed by an Open Mic event, hosted by Longford Writers.

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A fascinating Town Walk, with historian Matt Farrell, will bring the past to life with captivating stories. Stand-up comedian, Enda Whitney concludes the day’s events with fun and laughter in The Green.

During the afternoon of Saturday, 11th May, Yoga workshops will take place under a canopy in the Mindful Meadow in The Green. Well known facilitator, Marta Pasieczny will lead three meaningful sessions.

Charlie Byrne’s pop-up bookshop from Galway and a talk on Harry Kernoff on Saturday, 10th May, are new to the festival and the ever popular ‘Culture Night’ features best-selling author, Andrea Mara in conversation with Charlie McGettigan.

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Winners of the short story and poetry competitions, under the auspices of Triona Walsh (twice winner of the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair competition) and Lani O’Hanlon (author of The Little Theatre and Dancing the Rainbow) will be announced at this event, with music entertainment from Eimear Reynolds & Co. to enhance what promises to be a wonderful, cultural evening.

The festival concludes on Sunday, 11th May, in The Green with the 18th Century Mostrim Tea-Party. Visitors will be transported into a by-gone era and sip tea from traditional crockery. This event has proved to be very popular in the community and the committee would encourage people to come in traditional regency period costume.

The day includes an 18th Century Costume Competition where visitors to the festival will be given the opportunity to wear and enter their costumes into the competition with prizes on the day.

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An Arts and Crafts Artisan Market will offer an exciting variety of high-quality crafts and goods ranging from leatherwork to basketry, pottery, art, candles, decolletage, craft gin and much more.

And for the little ones, there will be face painting, facilitated by local students.

To the accompaniment of music - which includes a Samba band – and hopefully, some sunshine, this afternoon promises to deliver an event expressive of an annual festival which is at the heart of the community.

At the launch, Matt Farrell, of the Maria Edgeworth Festival committee, thanked festival sponsors Longford Community Resources, LCRL, Creative Longford, Longford Tourism, Paul & Vincent, C&D Foods, North Midland Credit Union, and The Railway Lodge B&B for their ongoing support.

Further details for booking and registration can be found at www.mariaedgeworthcenter or call 087 224 1351.