Shorelines Arts Festival

= 2009 =

Portumna, Co. Galway

= For Immediate Release =

Now in its second year, the Shorelines Arts Festival, Portumna launches Thursday 17th September with the opening of the arts, crafts, and media exhibition in “The Convent”. Opening the festival is John Quinn, well know author, broadcaster, and filmaker.

This year’s festival builds on the strenghts and popularity of last year’s, with a full line up of acts, artists, and workshops, and music in most bars most nights.

Thursday night sees, as well as the opening of the Shorelines Arts Festival and the exhibition area (which will stay open each day of the festival), an impromtu poetry recital night in Stronge’s Bar, beginning with verse from Portumna Pen Pushers and then anyone who is present who wishes to read. The Pen Pushers nights have gained a reputation around the area for their informal, lively, and eccentric atmospheres.

On Friday, The Retirement Village will host a formal poetry reading with Geraldine Mills and Portumna Pen Pushers as well as music and song from Joe Casey and the Omna Singers, while the Boathouse Bar will be the venue for an arts and general knowledge table quiz.

Saturday sees a full line up of events, starting with a creative writing and short story workshop with Geraldine Mills in the morning, whilst at the same time, local story teller Lisa O’Brien will regale the under fives in the library. In the afternoon Michael Coady will host a poetry and prose workshop whilst Ruth Sheridan teaches teenagers Hip Hop dancing. Later in the evening local and national filmakers will showcase their work in The Retirement Village, following which, in Portumna Castle, Michael Coady will recite from his poetry collection, the Portumna Players will perform a one-act play, and Ger Fahy will play the pipes. The evening will finish with a impromptu session of poetry and song in Horan’s Bar, starting with Baffle Loughrea and the Maple Poetry Group, with an open invitation then to all else present to read, sing, and dance.

Sunday, again, sees a full lineup. Brenda O’Callaghan will facilitate a movement workshop for older people in The Retirement Village in the morning, and Horan’s Bar will host a “happy hour” of humourous verse and song. John Lillis will teach Djing skills to those over eleven, while Paula Short teaches drama and dance to those under twelve. Fergal Darcy from i102-104 will hold a “Youth Theatre” workshop which will form the basis for this year’s “Portumna Youth Theatre”. Philip Short will coach a workshop of adult singers and the Maple Poetry Group will recite to the residents of The Retirement Village.

The festival will close on Sunday night with a performance by Anúna, the choral singers from Riverdance in St Brigid’s Church. Hot Press magazine have said of Anúna, “With Anúna, the worlds of choral, classical and traditional music intersect with ease, a place where heaven meets the horizon in perfect coalescence” .

Speaking recently, Noelle Lynskey, Chairperson of Portumna Arts Group and Shorelines Arts Festival organiser said: “I’m delighted with the line up for this year’s festival. It’s great to be able to provide something like this in an area that is so rich in artistic and cultural diversity. Last year we thought we give it a go, and after the response we got, we really had no choice but to continue it this year, and hopefully many years in to the future.”

Mark Conroy, Vice-Chairperson of Portumna Arts Group and Shorelines Arts Festival organiser, said: “An event like this takes a huge amount of planning and preparation – certainly something we couldn’t do without the help of many, many people. I’m also honoured to be part of something that has given the town such a good feeling about itself (as well as winning the all-Ireland for the past couple of years!)”.

For further information:

Noelle Lynskey 087 2931055

Mark Conroy  087 3689507

Web:    www.PortumnaArtsGroup.com

Email:   Click Here

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