Fantastic line up for Longford literary Festival

Once again the arts community of Edgeworthstown are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the renowned novelist Maria Edgeworth.

The three-day Maria Edgeworth Festival is packed with an array of captivating workshops, enchanting readings and open mic events. As usual the pièce de résistance is the extraordinary 18th Century Mostrim Tea Party on Sunday.
From its initial beginnings almost thirty years ago the festival has grown to incorporate talks for second level students, adult poetry, short story competitions and workshops, readings, historical trails, musical performances, nature walks and theatre performances.

This year's Maria Edgeworth Festival takes place in Edgeworthstow from Friday May 10 to Sunday May 12. Each year organisers have expanded the number of events on offer to appeal to a broad range of ages and interests.
Final details of the festival of art and literature were announced at the launch in the Community Library Edgeworthstown by Councillor Paul Ross, Cathaoirleach of the Ballymahon Municipal District.
Before launching the programme, Councillor Ross praised the committee for sustaining the festival for twenty-nine years and for broadening its scope to include other art forms.

Cllr Ross acknowledged the contribution by the society to ensure Longford and Edgeworthstown were selected as the venue for the National Famine Commemoration Day 2024.
The programme for the three day festival has offerings to suit all tastes. Theatre Director Maisie Lee will give a talk on the importance of creativity in our lives. This is a free event but registration is essential.
On Friday evening in the Hub there will be a poetry Open Mic organised by Longford Poetry Group.
Saturday will feature a number of workshops for adults and children on the subject of poetry, short story writing and storytelling with Orla McGovern. There will also be children’s storytelling in the Library.

On Saturday evening in the Green the winners of the poetry and short-story competitions will be announced.
This will be followed with an evening of readings and music featuring Victoria Kennefick, Sheila Forsey.
Acultural spectacle infused with the joys of literature, will see author Fergus Cronin in conversation with former Longford Leader editor Sheila Reilly.
Musical entertainment will be by Corinne McCormack Bushell accompanied by Coral conductor Derek Mahady, they will be joined by teenage harpist Lucy Shy Dunne. This promises to be a wonderful evening.
The festival concludes on Sunday afternoon when visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the era by dressing in period costumes, savour a delightful cuppa, and be mesmerized by a spellbinding Poetry Concert performed by the sensational American trio Los Lorcas.

This will see the featured New York musical attraction perform ‘From Raglan Road to Thunder Road’, an eclectic mix of lyrics from Yeats and Kavanagh to Dylan and Springsteen.
Chairperson of the Maria Edgeworth Centre, Matt Farrell, concluded by thanking the sponsors Creative Longford, Longford Arts Service, Longford Tourism, Poetry Ireland, Paul & Vincent, C&D Foods, Senator Micheal Carrugy, North Midlands Credit Union, The Railway Lodge B&B and Farrell Stationary.

Further details for booking and registration can be found at www.mariaedgeworthcenter ot call 0872241351