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S T R O K E S T O W N Féile
Idirnáisiúnta Filíochta
Bhéal Áth na mBuillí |
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The general consensus among poets, visitors, organisers and the people of Strokestown was that the 2006 Strokestown Festival was among the best since the Festival began. One of the highlights was the reading by Seamus Heaney on the opening night of the festival. An expectant crowd packed the hall of Scoil Mhuire and listened to the poet read poems from his latest collection, District and Circle, as well as from his earlier work. He was ably accompanied by flute-player Patsy Hanly, fiddler John Carty and singer Seán Garvey. A central part of this festival is the readings by the poets shortlisted for the poetry competition and audiences were treated to poems in English, Irish and Scottish Gaelic over the three days of the festival. Competition judges Maura Dooley, Theo Dorgan and Paula Meehan also gave readings in the atmospheric library of Strokestown Park House. And then, of course, there were the competitions. Cahal Dallat won the prize for a poem in English, with second and third prizes going respectively to Mick Wood and Ros Barber. Josh Ecky won the political satire competition and Rody Gorman won the prize for a poem in Irish or Scottish Gaelic, with second and third going to Aonghas Padraig Caimbeul and Tadhg Ó Dúshláine.You can read the winning poems on this site. The Strokestown festival offers a pretty intense poetry experience. All the readings are well attended,and there is real attention for the work presented. Yet the festival still retains its informal charm - it's definitely the friendliest poetry festival I've been at - and there is time to enjoy a pint or two in the many local pubs. 2006 was Paddy Bushe’s last year as Director and participants and organisers both expressed their thanks for all his labours in making this an enjoyable and wide-ranging festival. Details of this year's festival are on the site now and I hope it will be enjoyable as the previous incarnations. So come and join us and see and hear the likes of Michael Schmidt, Moya Cannon, Pat Boran, Gerry Murphy, Eva Bourke, Michael O' Loughlin, the Gaelic Hit Factory (Louis de Paor and John Spillane), John Waters and all the shortlisted poets. It promises to be as intense as ever. . . Peter Sirr Festival Director |
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