12/08/2024
And so, it is done! Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival 2024 has come to an end. Another resounding success thanks to the people of the town and visiting members of our diaspora plus friends, who supported events in great numbers, rain or shine. And, boy, did it rain last Thursday!
Still, the show went on. In that we were blessed to have access to the Hall in St Nathy’s College (thank you Fr Martin Henry), to our wonderful Cathedral (thank you Fr Paul Kivlehan), to the Phoenix Centre nearby (thank you Rosemarie Finnerty and staff), and to the gloriously neo-Gothic Edmondstown House, (thank you, David, Chloe, Agnes, and Seamus Ewings). Thank you David for so much else!
Keeping people safe throughout were James Sharkey and his merry band of volunteer brothers, who also decorated the town with bunting. `The Old Reliables’, thank you, men. And thank you Phil O’Connor and her Red Cross colleagues for being there throughout, and to the Women’s Shed who made the Square beautiful in Roscommon and Mayo colours.
A big, big thank you to our major sponsors, Duffy’s SuperValu, Durkin’s, Lynch Roofing, Biocore, Abbeyfield EROC, Noel Regan Engineering - NRS, Cooney’s, Aurivo, Thompson Butler Steel Ltd, James Tully and Michael Kelly at the Castle/|Fiddler’s Elbow, Roscommon Co Council, and our very many Friends of the Festival. Without their significant financial and other supports none of this would have been possible. And thank you to another old reliable, Imelda Towey (Main Street), for making printed tickets available to people.To the Guys @ The Print Depot - Thanks Matt, Terry and Aaron for their designs and professionalism.
Thank you to the Women-At-The-Door for all events: Anne O’Grady, Sinead Mangan, Jennifer McCann, Attracta O Grady, Stephanie Craughwell and Ciara Spelman, not forgetting Molly! Getting through the eye of a needle would be a jaunt compared to getting past these women without a ticket.
At the very centre of the Festival’s success has been the abundance of local talent involved, particularly the Ballaghaderreen Players in `The Cripple of Inishmaan’ and `Park Life’ who excelled under Julie Sharkey’s direction, as well as in that short film `The Visitors’, produced and directed by SeánMcGarry and Christine Braithwaite.
The Cathedral Choir and some outstanding soloists came into their own with the `Happy Birthday Percy French’ tribute, compiled by the multi-talented Maria Moynihan and narrated by Tommy Davey, making a welcome return to the stage.
The Fionn McCumhaill opera for children, produced by Chloe Ewings and starring a cast of only-thrilled schoolchildren, with visiting professionals, played to full houses. Another great success, as was the Little Gem Puppet Show, so popular we had to change venues.
As popular was the exhibition of paintings, sculpture, photography involving 33 local artists and organised by the Community Art Group.
Our thanks, especially, to Gerardine O’Mahony and her girls for their unstinting support with the GAA Night, prepared by Johnno (RIP) and Tommie Gorman (RIP), honoured by the presence of former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin and broadcaster Seán O’Rourke. It can’t have been easy.
The Heritage Walk by Dr Anna King, as well as the exhibition involving memorabilia of old Ballagh at the Shambles, was very well attended too, as was Nollaig Molloy’s exhibition at the old Powerhouse.
Then there was the welcome return to Edmondstown House of London’s Pilgrim Players with their charming presentation to delighted audiences of Shakespeare’s comedy `As You Like’ in the splendid grounds there.
Thank you to Dr Pete Meagher for organising the exhibition by professional artists on show in Mulligan’s Windows, Main Street, and for organising associated workshops.
It was all such a great Ballagh effort. Add in those professionals – the orchestra on Vivaldi Night in the Cathedral, conductor David Brophy, cellist Ailbhe McDonagh violinist Lynda O’Connor, Lúnasa, Breda and Sean Smyth, Mary Coughlanh , Sheamus Smith , Christine Tobin , David McSavage , John Colleary,...it’s no wonder Festival 2024 was such a success.
A ‘Hat Tip’ to the wonderful presenters and Mc’s throughout the festival, Mairead. Ni Nuadhain Mary Sheridan Cunniffe, Micheal Donaghue and Emma Foley all took to the stage effortlessly to announce the acts and provide insights. We bow before your style and ease.
And where would so many events have been without the hard work, commitment and imagination of those very sound (and light) men Brendan Nugent and Adrian McDermott? Guys, you were outstanding.
A huge thank you also to Festival Webmeister Erik Nielsen, to Festival photographer Marek Petrovic, Edwina Rushe for her social media contributions and to our Hospitality Officer Yvonne Lavin who looked after accommodation and gifts for visiting performers.
Finally, there’s just us – the Festival organising committee. We did ok (a brief pause here as we - discreetly - pat one another on the back). Let’s enjoy this short moment of satisfaction before our first post-festival meeting with Treasurer Anne McGreal, for whom every sponsors’ cent is precious as diamond. Some among us would prefer to meet our Maker.
