Third 'Forge at Gort' festival puts the Music back in Literature

national | arts and media | press release Tuesday March 30, 2010 00:42 by Fred Johnston - The Western Writers' Centre - Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude - Galway westernwriters at eircom dot net Canavan House, Nuns Island, Galway 087.2178138

Gort's third litfest marks a milestone passed

Sunny weather and solid organisation brought a small feast of excellent music,prose and storytelling, and a fine workshop on poetry, to the small town of Gort, Co. Galway.

Harper Paul Dooley with poet Pádraig Ó Moráin at Gort Library

The third 'Forge at Gort' literary festival, ran on March 26th and 27th. We had wonderful sunny weather and great attendances. But it goes without saying that the festival would not have gone ahead had it not been for the goodwill and active support of a considerable number of organisations and individuals.
A special word of thanks must go to Keith Finnegan at Galway Bay FM radio and to the staff of Clare FM radio and to Kernan Andrews at the Galway Advertiser and the editor of the Galway Independent; to Judy Murphy at The City Tribune and Andrew Hamilton and others at The Clare People newspaper, to individuals at RTE (TV and radio) at Donnybrook, Dublin, who were more than helpful, in particular the team at RTE's Arena. The Western Writers'Centre (Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude) is particularly grateful to our direct sponsors: Galway County Council: Minihane's Supervalu, Gort; Poetry Ireland; Noel Monahan; Knute Skinner; Scéal Eile Bookstore, Ennis, Co. Clare; Pat O'Callaghan; The Arts Council; Drew Logan (USA), O'Grady's Bar and Restaurant, Gort; O'Sullivan's Royal Hotel, Gort, the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort and The Gallery Café, Gort; those who took advertising and made possible our feature page in The Clare People; and Cathy Dillon at The Irish Times; and to the design genius and speed of James at I-Supply, Sea Road, Galway. Our waves too to the editorial committee of Indymedia Ireland.
As always, there aren't thanks enough for the Staff of Gort Public Library, Gort, Co. Galway, whose enthusiasm, dedication to the events and good-naturedness once again was a highlight of our time there. A particular thanks to the owners of the famous Forge, which sits in Gort still and which has become the emblem of this modest festival, for which we hope they will excuse us. My personal thanks to Brian Mooney and to violinist, the marvellous Yuki Nishioka, and to Sylvia Crawford and Niamh O'Shea.
Participants in this festival, as well as audience members, in some cases travelled considerable distances to be with us. We look forward sincerely to putting together the festival in 2011. Sincere thanks all round from The Western Writers' Centre, Galway. Now get a modest flavour of the festival on these links!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLOlKdgBZF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDjp3t1cG1k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKjaeYnAPsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_QAwVxmoj8

Playwright John Arden (seated) with poet Patrick Early