Shorelines Arts Festival got underway with the Launch by Pauraic Breathnach in the Nunnery on Thursday evening where local sponsors and artists gathered to see the Art Exhibition in the beautiful setting of the old Convent.

Pauraic encouraged the active participation of Arts Groups in smaller communities outside the city, lauded the wonderful space that housed the exhibition and officially set sail the first Portumna Arts Festival. The convent chapel was home to a Photographic Exhibition by Joe Geoghegan, a Galway based photographer. Entitled "The Eye of The Beholder", it featured poetry and a photo of the left eye of 23 well known contemporary Irish poets. It was described by one visitor as an "eye-opener"!

Friday evening saw the successful Treasure Hunt take place with clues from Mark Conroy providing a few brain teasers to the participants. That night, poets Iggy Mc Govern and Derek Coyle featured in a poetry reading in the intimate setting of the chapel in Portumna Retirement Vllage.

There, the following morning, by kind invitation from Tony Williams and overseen by Sarah Smith, the members of Maple Poetry Group and the residents shared rhymes and recitations, tea and coffee in a morning that will be treasured by all who participated.

Saturday afternoon, over 100 people from tots to the actively retired members of Portumna and it's surrounds were busy at drama/dance and writing workshops. The evening saw the hosting of "The Shore" a piano and poetry recital by two Mayo men - Conor Walsh and Martin Dyar- in the perfect setting of Portumna Castle. An event that proves the power of the spoken word and the magic of music; a blend finely balanced and well performed by two emerging, young Irish talents.

The night ended with a Poetry Session with members from BAFFLE, Loughrea, Portumna Pen Pushers and the Maple Poetry Group taking part.

Sunday morning's  Soup, Song and Sandwich was a resounding success with strings, song, poems and soup flowing from corner to corner of the cosy gathering and continued well into the afternoon.

Then, over 30 attendants drummed their way through the African Drumming workshop while the teenagers attended a fun and vibrant Youth Theatre workshop.

The festival closed with an event in An Gairdin, celebrating the life and work of Barbara Kennedy, a recently deceased member of the Portumna Pen Pushers. A fitting and special ending to a very special week-end that was supported so positively by the Portumna people, both in their generous sponsorship, their voluntary help and their attendance at events.

Festival co-ordinator, Noelle Lynskey; Treasurer, Eileen Smith and PRO-Mark Conroy would like to thank all those who helped make the first festival possible and already, plans are afoot for next year.

Again, the Sponsors are specially thanked and outside the area, the support from Poetry Ireland and Galway County Council Arts Office is greatly appreciated.

If you want to join Portumna Arts Group - keep an eye on www.portumnaartsgroup.com for information on events, meetings and the various groups involved.