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Westport Arts Festival
Taking place over two weekends in the Co Mayo town of Westport, this annual festival is aimed at all ages and a wide range of interests.
The 2008 programme has yet to be announced, but the details below from 2007 will give you a favour of what you can expect.
The first weekend of the 2007 Arts Festival saw the town come alive with street theatre performances and evening entertainment provided by, among others, the Crash ensemble, Moshes Bagel and the Doha Gypsies from Rajasthan. Several events, including many for kids, took place in the grounds of Westport House. The Blue Raincoat Theatre Company from Sligo were in town, performing at the Leisure Centre.
Also taking place was be the Gael Force Adventure Festival, a celebration of the outdoors which included two particularly challanging events, the GF6, in which participants covered a 65km course by bike, kayak and on foot and the GF12, which followed a four stage course over 170km-200km, where teams and individuals navigated over an unmarked course, with the details of how it should be traversed kept a closely gaurded secret!
The Adventure Festival Village featuresda mind boggling array of activities, including Kite Surfing, Water Skiing, Laser Combat Games, Archery, Mountain Biking, Paint Balling, 4 x 4 tours, Hot Air Balloons and Hover Craft, plus Ireland's largest skydiving formation dive. Makes you tired just thinking about it!
For the hungry participants in all of this a Food Village served everything from Crepes to Chocolate fondues.
On the second weekend the focus was on music, with jazz and world music to the fore. There were also puppet theatre performances for children.
During the intevening week the pace didn't slack and talks, music concerts and sessions, exhibitions and performances were held at various venues around the town.
In 2008 you can expect just as packed and varied a programme, so if you are in the West in early September you really should make an effort to include at least one night in Westport on your itinerary.
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What else to do in Mayo?
For a look at some other activities and attractions that we recommend within reach of this event, including tour itineraries and articles of interest, see our West Area Guide.
