Westport Arts Festival
A community based event, Westport Arts Festival brings a feast of dance, theatre, music and art shows from around the world to the Co Mayo town each autumn.
In 2011 more than 100 events will take place over the 10 days of the festival, in venues in the town and its surroundings, with a line up that includes dance, music, visual arts, circus, family-friendly activities, poetry readings, street theatre, puppet shows, interactive theatre and much more.
The festival kicks of with a week-long series of classic movies screened in a purpose-built Drive-in cinema at Westport House. The same venue is the location for “A Fairies Tale” a theatrical aerial circus performance in the woods, staged by Fidget Feet.
Musical hightlights include an evening with Glen Hansard in Matt Molloy’s pub, singer-songwriter Cathy Davey in another strictly limited gig, both likly to sell out fast. Metal lovers will enjoy ”To Hell or to Connaught”, a mini festival in itself, featuring the cream of contemporary Irish heavy metal bands. There is also an indie rock night, modern jazz with the Rhombus Quartet, as well as classical, folk and traditional Irish music events.
The sketch comedy of Foil, Arms and Hog come to Westport fresh from a run at the Edinburgh festival.
The visual arts strand has an exhibition by award-winning photographer Jackie Nickerson, exploring how globalisation affects indigenous peoples, while ‘I AM ALIVE’ is a collaboration between artist William Hamilton and six survivers of suicide.
Other events to watch for include Philomena Lynott reading from her book ‘My Boy’ about her son Phil, and ‘The Derry Boat’ a show by Little John Nee that tells the funny but poignant story of the four generations of migration between Ireland and Scotland.
These are just a very few highlights of what is always a diverse and interesting week in Westport, well worth getting along to.
Festival Information and Location Map
Tickets can be bought online for most events and advance purchase is definitely recommended for the more popular events which will sell out. Visit website.
