An advert placed in Faulkner’s Dublin Journal on March 17 1767 sought people and tradesmen to help build a new town of Westport situated around an Octagon enclosed with large, well-finished slated houses, together with avenues for streets of houses.

So with 250 years of history to celebrate, the townsfolk have planned a range of events to compliment their vast existing events programme. The goal of Westport 250 is to engage with the local community, the covey diaspora, and visitors to celebrate this landmark anniversary. Listed below is a comprehensive, month-by-month run-down of the events, festivals, and celebrations associated with the Westport 250 programme.

March:
Westport 250 Launch
Street Entertainment
250 Themed Parade
Westport Lions Club Clew Bay People of the Year Awards- March 24
Connacht Series Duathlon- March 25th
National Tidy Towns Conference (With RTE’s Dermot Bannon)- March 25th

April:
Coileán: Children’s Arts Festival- April 6-9th
4 day with Drama Music and Arts events
Workshops/ Theatre Performances/ Street Acts
Mayo Day: Celebrating the Mayoness of Westport– April 30th

May:
Acoustic Yard (Song writers) Festival– 5th to 7th
Westportif – Saturday 13th
Pedal Paddle Pilgrimage – Saturday 20th
The Westport Air Show
Spraoi at The Quay- Friday 19th to Sunday 21st
A festival weekend at Westport Harbour
International Mini Meet/ Rally – Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th
1,500/2,000 Mini Cars

June:
Grainne Ale/ Pirate Queen Festival- 2nd-4th June
50th Annual Westport Horse Show- 3rd and 4th June
Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival-9th-11th June
Westport Triathlon- 17th June
Sea Angling Festival- 23rd-25th June
Westport Food Festival- 23rd-25th June
Gael Force- 24th June
Clew Bay Garden Trail

July:
Covey Week 250 Special
Laurence Collection Exhibition
Westport Cycling Crit- 8th July
Last One Running- 23rd July
Traditional Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage Weekend- 28th-30th July

August:
Harvest Country Music Festival- August 26th-27th
Holiday Time Special
Free Family Street Events
A Variety of Street Performers

September:
Festival of Chamber Music- 8th-10th September
Westport of the Worlds- 14th-17th September
Visitors from Westports all over the world
Westport Arts Festival
250 Special

October:
Traditional Horse Fair
Westport Duathlon
Skate Festival
Halloween Fest- 27th-30th October
The Leeson Legacy – Irish Georgian Society Conference
History of Westport – Book launch
Launch of THE GREAT LEVIATHAN: The Life Of Howe Peter Brown 2nd Marquess of Sligo

November:
Rolling Sun Book Festival- 3rd-5th November
Sea to Summit- 11th November

December:
Westport Wonderland
Spectacular Christmas Themed Festival
Ice Rink – Fun Fair – Market Stalls

March 17 – March 18

James KG Hoare

Angel Cara Knight Rainbow Grace

Halford J. McKirdy

Rainbow Grace is a magical, musical adventure for the whole family now showing this summer at Westport Town Hall Theatre.  It is rated Five-F of course, for Fantastic-Family-Friendly-Fun-For Everyone!

Shows are all summer long, every Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm until August 31st. Rainbow Grace is an original tale performed by award winning brother and sister duo, James KG Hoare and Angel Cara Knight. The music and lyrics are composed by the talented and accomplished singer and songwriter, James KG Hoare.

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered what lies at the Rainbow’s End? Grace certainly has! And now she wants to take you on an adventure, through Rainbow Space, to find out! On the journey you’ll meet some extraordinary characters; inhabitants of strange and exotic realms! There’ll be charming and wondrous music, sublime song and joyous dance. Firstly though, I must ask you three questions; Are you a kind person? Are you true of heart? Are you Brave? You see, if we are to uncover the gifts at the end of the Rainbow, we must answer YES to all these things… For the Rainbow is my friend and it’s my job to keep her precious treasures a secret!

Yours most Sincerely,

Shaun…

Shaun, The Leprechaun

So come along and dare to be dazzled and amazed! Suitable for ALL AGES 1-92! (Over 93s must be accompanied by a child.)

Here’s what audience members are saying:

Sharon Ryder reviewed Rainbow Grace — 5 star

7 hrs ·

Amazing show the kids absolutely adored it. What a talented team to write, produce and perform from scratch. The music alone is a reason to go.

Aoife M Creaby reviewed Rainbow Grace — 5 star

July 10 at 10:44am ·

Hugely entertaining for children and adults. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A show not to be missed !

Lorraine Bullard reviewed Rainbow Grace — 5 star

July 2 at 10:12am ·

Rainbow Grace is a beautiful show which has both children and adults captivated alike. With catchy music and songs which you will be singing for days after. My 2 and a half year old son was enthralled by the beautiful singing & charismatic characters. Two amazing actors, filled with boundless energy & enthusiasm. A must see for all families over the Summer months. A wonderful production which will leave you full of love & happiness.

Melanie Smyth reviewed Rainbow Grace — 5 star

June 27 at 12:19pm ·

This is an enchanting production!! I would have to echo the sentiments from the previous reviews! I took my 2, 4 and 6 year old to see Rainbow Grace..they were completely engaged, start to finish! We will definitely be back  Congratulations to all involved, superb for the whole family, we loved it.

Catherine Hastings reviewed Rainbow Grace — 5 star

June 26 at 11:35am ·

I attended this yesterday with my four year old grandson. He is still talking about it today. Good wholesome family show. Great to see a show that has a little boy jumping, clapping, dancing, singing and shouting along. Well done to the team involved.

Sarah Billington reviewed Rainbow Grace — 5 star

June 25 at 6:24pm ·

A superb show. A must see for young families. The music is beautiful and the acting first class. It’s funny, engaging,warm and full of lovely messages. Well done Angel and James-we’ll definitely be back again over the summer. X

Between the 6th – 8th May Westport will host The Acoustic Yard Singer/Songwriters Festival primarily in the Town Hall Theatre. Over 30 international acts from around the world will be playing around the town with some free events, open mic and showcase gigs.

On Friday 6th of May the festival opens with an evening concert in the Town Hall featuring Declan O’Rourke, Anna Mitchell and Craig and Willoughby.

Declan’s debut album in 2004 ‘Since Kyabram’, debuted at no. 5 on the Irish Charts and scored double-platinum sales with his song ‘Galileo (Someone Like You)’ has been recorded and performed by many artists,including singer Josh Groban

Bap Kennedy will be playing Saturday 7th of May in the Town Hall with Kathleen Turner and they will be joined from the USA by Teresa Storch and Jeff Brown.

Belfast singer/songwriter Bap Kennedy has won a global audience for his music, which fuses elements of folk and rock with a decidedly Celtic world view. He has collaborated in the past with Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) and Galway Girl writer Steve Earle. His song “Moonlight Kiss,” also landed in the Hollywood movie Serendipity starring John Cusack.

Tickets for these two events can be booked online at www.westporttheatre.com or at the booking office 098 28459.

All other events are free including the Saturday afternoon songwriters collective between 12pm  and 5pm that includes international acts Daithi Rua from Belgium and Zia Land from Norway to popular local acts like Graham Sweeney and Brian Duffy. There is an open mic in the foyer with sign in at 11.45am and showcase gigs in the bar area.

The last day of the festival is called ‘The Songwriters Trail’ where listeners can follow the music from The Creel at the Quay via Mono Cafe, Hight St, The Gallery Wine Bar and Matt Molloy’s Bridge St. Artists on the day include Warren Attwell, Elaine Griffin, Brigid O’Neill and Kate O’Callaghan.

There is a special commemorative 20 track The Acoustic Yard Compilation CD on sale for 10 euros featuring some of the acts playing at this year’s festival. It can be bought at the Town Hall Theatre or online at www.theacousticyard.com.

The main focus of the festival is for singer/songwriters to have a platform to perform their own songs and for audiences to listen to original music in a relaxed environment and most importantly to enjoy a wonderful weekend of entertainment. Tickets for main evening gigs are €22 each night and can be bought online at www.westporttheatre.com or at the booking office (098) 28459.

‘The Acoustic Yard’ singer/songwriter sessions’ initially started up as a monthly event in Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar in Westport in February 2014. The main focus was for singer/songwriters to have a platform to perform their own songs and for audiences to listen to original music in a relaxed environment. A key aim was to help to invigorate and stimulate songwriting and to supply an evening of entertainment.

Due to the success of this event, the idea of ‘The Acoustic Yard Singer/Songwriters Festival’ was born and developed into the festival which will take place from Friday 6th – Sunday 8th May 2016, primarily in The Town hall Theatre, Westport.

The main auditorium of the Town Hall Theatre will host the headline concerts on the Friday and Saturday nights with further concerts and workshops on Saturday afternoon. The local cafes will also host some free concerts on the Sunday with a final gig to wind up the festival in Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar in the evening. The musicians will be encouraged to play and busk around the town that weekend to bring an air of festivity to the streets.

We have already booked over 30 international acts from the USA, UK, Europe and Scandinavia playing alongside some of our own home grown talent. Artists already booked include Declan O’Rourke, Bap Kennedy, Craig and Willoughby (USA/UK), Teresa Storch (USA), Daithi Rua (Belguim), Zia Land (Norway), Kathleen Turner, Anna Mitchell and many more.

The Saturday afternoon session in The Town Hall Theatre will be of an educational nature as people from all ages can meet professional songwriters who in turn will pass on their knowledge through workshops and concerts. There will also be an art exhibition in the Town Hall Theatre for that weekend around the theme of songwriting. Our festival of original music in one of the most popular music towns in Ireland will help to show a different emphasis to life here in the West of Ireland.

More info and tickets @ www.westporttheatre.com

Sophie Ellis-Bextor To Perform At Westport Festival of Music & Food

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The Overtones Return for Westport Festival of Music & Food

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US Comedian Rich Hall Joins Comedy Line-up

Westport Festival of Music & Food is delighted to include Sophie Ellis-Bextor and five piece vocal harmony group, The Overtones amongst the line up for the two day entertainment extravaganza. US Comedian Rich Hall will also join the boutique music festival which takes place in the picturesque grounds of Westport House & Adventure Park on Saturday & Sunday, 28&29 June.

Singer, songwriter, model and star of Strictly Come Dancing Sophie Ellis-Bextor has announced she will be performing at the Westport Festival of Music of Food which takes place in Westport House on 28 & 29 June. Sophie who achieved widespread success in the early 2000s has released five solo albums: Read My Lips, Shoot from the Hip, Trip the Light Fantastic, Make a Scene and has had career high-points with songs like Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love), Murder On The Dancefloor, Take Me Home and Catch You.  Sophie’s most recent album, Wanderlust which was released on 20 January 2014 reached no 4 in its first week in the UK charts

The Overtones

The Overtones formed in London in 2010, consisting of singers from Cork, England and Australia. They were discovered by a Warner Brothers talent scout while working as decorators in a shop near Oxford Street, singing during their tea break.Their debut album Good Ol’ Fashioned Love entered the UK Albums Chart at #16 in November 2010. However, after the re-release of the album in March 2011, it propelled to #4. They sold in excess of 500,000 copies of their first album and have just completed sell out shows in Dublin, Cork and Belfast

Rich Hall is part Cherokee, part cranky Southerner and part country singer. He is probably best known for his appearances on Channel 4’s “Stand Up For The Week” and as an outstanding guest on Q.I., Have I Got News For You, and Never mind The Buzzcocks.  In 2000, he won the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, in the guise of his own grizzled uncle, Otis Lee Crenshaw, the much-convicted country music singer. A grouchy deadpan comedy genius who looks like a Pearl Jam roadie, Rich is a master of absurdist irony. He’s widely believed to be the inspiration for Simpson’s character Moe Syzlak.

Comedian, Rich Hall

These new additions to the star studded line up take to the stage at the boutique festival in the centre of Westport town on Sunday, 29 June, alongside Bryan Adams, Kool & The Gang, Sinead O’Connor, The Divine Comedy and David Gray.

The Westport Festival of Music & Food promises a fantastic fun filled music and food extravaganza with over 70 artists and comedians performing across five stages, an amazing food village and quality onsite camping in a truly relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.   

CHEFS KITCHEN

Gastronomic gurus including Rachel Allen, Clodagh McKenna, Darina Allen as well as Ross Lewis (Chapter One), Derry Clarke (L’Ecrivain), Noel McMeel (Lough Erne Resort), Neven Maguire (MacNean House), Seamus Commons (Knockranny House, Westport) and Frankie Mallon (An Port Mor, Westport) will prepare delicious mouth-watering dishes using locally produced, seasonal ingredients from Mayo and the surrounding areas in The Chef’s Kitchen, which will be located in the Food & Wine Magazine Village.

MUSIC

Music acts confirmed so far for the Westport Festival include David Gray, Bryan Adams, Sinead O’Connor, Kool & The Gang, The Divine Comedy, Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Jim Jones Revue, The Overtones, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Kila, The Selecter starring Pauline Black & Gaps Hendrickson,  Bjorn Again, Tony Joe White, The Bootleg Beatles, The Hot Sprockets, The Kilfenora Ceile Band and Alien Envoy (Nick Kelly of The Fat Lady Sings new project),  Additional acts will be announced over the next few months.

THE ROISIN DUBH STAGE

The hugely popular ‘Róisín Dubh’ Stage is back again this year with a supreme selection of incredibly talented up and coming Irish acts including The Cast of Cheers, Lisa O’Neill, Daithi, We Cut Corners, Enemies, Windings, Tvvins, Elaine Mai, Dott, Boyfights, The Depravations, Rudy Trixx, It Was All A Bit Black & White, My Fellow Sponges, Zero Era and Tracy Bruen.

COMEDY

Comedians Ardal O’Hanlon, Terry Alderton, Foil Arms & Hog, Karl Spain, Comedy Club 4 Kids with Howard Read (& Little Howard CBBC) and Tiernan Douieb will be keeping everyone entertained in the Comedy Tent.

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

The Westport Festival welcomes all ages and of course kids under 12 are allowed in for free accompanied by an adult. Westport House has an amazing award winning Pirate Adventure Park which includes a host of FREE activities for kids and parents too…

·         The Pirate Queen Swinging Ship- Not for the faint hearted, the Pirate Queen will test your head for heights – and your stomach!

·         Pirate Plunge Log Flume Ride – A Pirate Adventure ark favourite, the Pirates Plunge is a splash-tastic log flume water ride that guarantees to entertain (not to mention splashing the passengers).

·         Swan Pedaloe Boats – Families can pedal around the Westport House Lake on eight foot high Swan Pedaloe boats and enjoy views of the House, the Park, Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay. The swans are pedal propelled so it’s a fun way to get a little work out during your weekend at the Westport Festival.

·         Westport House Express Train Ride – You can take a short ride through the grounds and watch out for surprises around every corner. Check out the stunning views of the lake, the House, Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay.  

·         Pirates Playground – Set adjacent to Gracy’s Bar & Cafe, The Pirates Playground offers a slide, climbing frames and rockers to entertain.

·         Gracy’s Bouncy Castle – Set in the Pirates Haven, Gracy’s Bouncy Castle provides ideal fun for the younger members of the family. Children will have a ball!

Take a guide Tour of the Pirate Adventure Park here Westport House Pirate Adventure Video

ACCOMMODATION
Westport Festival of Music & Food is situated in the very heart of Westport town which was voted Irish Times best place to live in Ireland.    There is a wonderful selection of hotels within 200 yards of the entrance to our festival and amazing guest houses to stay close by.   There is also a first class campsite located in Westport House. Check out www.destinationwestport.com  for more info on hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation.   Local accommodation is also available via www.Airbnb.com

CAMPING, CARAVANS & CAMPERVANS

Westport House has an established campsite with excellent facilities.  With hot water in the showers and real toilets, it’ll provide the best festival camping experience you’ll have all year! Set up camp in this gorgeous natural environment surrounded by ancient trees with Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay in the background.  It’s a camper’s dream!  And you’ll only be a short walk away from all the Festival action and just a 10-minute walk from Westport town. Onsite Facilities include: FREE hot showers, electrics (limited numbers so allocated on a first come-first served basis!), WiFi, recycling, picnic & washing up areas.  Onsite bar & café with food open until 11pm. Weekend Festival & Camping Tickets are on sale from the www.westporthouse.ie/shop 

TICKETS

Westport Festival of Music & Food tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster

ADULT TICKETS – NON CAMPING

·         Day Tickets   (Saturday or Sunday)   €76  (including booking fee)

·         Weekend Tickets   €131  (including booking fee)

Children 12 years or younger go free – up to two per paying adult

TEEN – 13 TO 17 YRS OLD – NON CAMPING

·         Day Tickets  (Saturday or Sunday ) €41 (including booking fee)

·         Weekend Tickets  €61 (including booking fee)

Teen tickets apply to children 13-16 years – they must be accompanied by a paying adult; ID will be requested at entry point to verify age.  

BOX OFFICE DETAILS

Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide

Tel:  24 Hours / 7 days : 0818 719 300   International +353 1 4569569  UK incl. NI 0844 8472455

Phone & Internet bookings are subject to €1.65 service charge per ticket up to €13.10, 12.5% over (Max €6.10), Outlets €2.15 per ticket

CAMPING TICKETS

·         Weekend Festival & Camping Ticket (tents only):  €160 per person

·         Weekend Festival & Campervan Ticket:  €170 per person (a separate ticket must be purchased for each van at €40 per van)

·         Teen Festival & Camping Ticket (tents only):  €80 per person

·         Weekend Teen Festival & Campervan Ticket:  €85 per person 

·         Weekend car parking (for campers/tents):  €20 per car

For further information about camping at Westport House, please email 

camping@westporthouse.ie or call the Westport House Camp Site on 098 27766.   

For further information about Westport Festival of Music & Food, please check out 

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoIV12NtTl4

Website :  www.westportfestival.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/WestportFestivalOfMusicAndPerformingArts

Twitter : @westportfest

Dermott Healy Helps locally Known Poet
raise much needed funds for Irish Cancer Society.

Date for your diary, Dermott Healy well known writer and poet is back in Hotel Westport this Thursday, December 5^th @ 6p.m. to help launch a book of poetry for the Irish Cancer Society. The initiative is the work of John Smith, known to local audiences as one of the winning poems in the “Poetry For Patrick” Competition  earlier this year which was a collection of 50 poems celebrating St.Patrick and his association with Westport and the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick.

John’s latest work contains musings and a mainly satirical look on people, places and events with a distinctive Westport slant. John of course features regularly in entertainment programmes at Hotel Westport where he was employed for many years.

The evening will include some refreshments and entertainment and of course the all important efforts for the Irish Cancer Society for whom all proceeds will go to.

All are welcome. 

Michael Flanagan, Tuam Wins The Westport Sea2Summit Adventure Race,

in a time of 2.55:46!

Michael Flanagan, 2013 Sea2Summit Winner

Under ideal November weather conditions, over 1500 athletes took the ultimate challenge of Westport Sea2Summit – one of the country’s leading Adventure Races with Michael Flanagan first over the line in a record breaking time of 2 hrs 55 Minutes! The grueling 56.5km course took the Tuam native through an intense journey of road running, mountain cycling and the challenging uphill run to the summit of Croagh Patrick and finishing with a sea dash and obstacle challenge before finishing in the middle of Westport town. “It was just an amazing experience, great to see everybody out there giving it loads, it was a brilliant competition, well organised, I really enjoyed the whole thing”

Supreme Race:

Men’s Category                                             Women’s Category

1^st Michael Flanagan 2.55:46                          1^st Fiona Meade 3.26:45

2^nd Con Doherty 2.57:29                                 2^nd Marie Boyle 3.38:28

3^rd Shane Scully 2.59:19                                 3^rd Moire O’Sullivan 3.47:44

3^rd Gary Scully 2.59:19

Spirit Race:

Men’s Category                                             Women’s Category

1^st Brendan Conway 1.38:32                          1^st Mary Daly 1.55:16

2^nd Martin Nee 1.45:53                                   2^nd Catherine Conway 1.59:39

3^rd Jimmy Lawlor 1.46:28                             3^rd Eimear Kelly 2.10:02

Supreme Relay:

1^st Team T Bourke 2.49:10

Brothers Shane and Gary Scully took joint 3^rd prize in a time of 2 hrs and 59 minutes.

First Supreme Lady over the Line was Fiona Meade in a time of 3 hrs and 26 Minutes.

The extreme sporting challenge attracted the crème de la crème of Adventure Race enthusiasts in Ireland,  – a testament to the quality of the course and the intensity of the Sea2Summit challenge. Also taking part in the event included well known athletes World Champion Walker Rob Heffernan, European Indoor World Champion David Gillick, GAA All Stars, Paul Curran and Dessie Dolan.  Leading the field with a host of celebrities included Bressie and Hardy Bucks Martin Maloney.  

The Sea2Summit event offered competitors a choice of two race categories;

The S2S Supreme                                               The S2S Spirit

4.5k run                                                                         4.5k run

8k cycle                                                                          8k cycle

5k Mountain Hike (Croagh Patrick)                    3k Mountain Hike (Croagh Patrick)

        35k cycle                                                                       8k cycle

4k run with sea dash & obstacle course            4k run with sea dash & obstacle course

Total distance 56.5kms                                            Total distance 27.5kms

“This year the event has surpassed all of our expectations and thankfully has been a huge success for the fourth year in a row! With 1,500 competitors taking part Sea 2 Summit is the fastest growing adventure race in Ireland.  The weather conditions were ideal, the athletes were up for the challenge and it was amazing to see family and friends out in their droves to cheer on the participants. No doubt there will be a few aching muscles and blisters but there is a real sense of accomplishment amongst all competitors” stated Sea2Summit Race Director Paul O’ Brien.

Start of the Sea2Summit race

This years charity partner is LARCC, the only Residential Cancer Care Facility in the country. As the Ambassador for LARCC Bressie was delighted to compete in Westport Sea2Summit and raise funds to support this vital service.  “I find it hard to believe there is a better setting on earth to do a race such as this. The scenery and the hairibo were the only thing that got me through it “

Spearheaded by the Westport Plaza & Castlecourt Hotel Resort, the adventure Race is welcomed as an exemplary tourism & sporting initiative, reaffirming Westport as the adventure capital of Ireland! Full race results are available on www.westportsea2summit.ie or follow us on Facebook on Sea 2 Summit.

As anticipation builds for Halloween, rumours flourish of ghoulish goings on at the historic Westport House in Co. Mayo.  Their annual Halloween Fest, which runs for the duration of the mid-term break (October 26 to November 3) from 11am to 5pm daily, is the perfect place to go for fiendish family fun.  It’s so devilishly good that it was awarded as the Best Halloween Event in the West!

The 18th century historic house will be transformed into a (not too) scary haunted house for the week (suitable for little ones), and the attractions and activities on offer are guaranteed to cast a spell over your little witches and warlocks!  The cauldron of festive fun includes the White Witch’s story time, and ghastly face painting with Lord of the Darkness, he has something for even the little ones.

For that added bubble, boil and trouble make sure you try out the frighteningly good family workshops throughout the day: Carve your very own Jack O’Lantern to ward off evil spirits when you get home (additional charge of €2.50 for your pumpkin); or Zombie shuffle your way to the formal Large Dining room of Westport House and learn all the moves to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video. 

If all this Halloween fun has worked up an appetite, then trick or treat your way to Westport House’s ‘Spooky Spoons workshop’ where you’ll learn some gruesome new recipes and decorate your own cupcake with snakes and spiders webs and maybe even eye of newt.

You and your little monsters will have a hauntingly good time as you experience the thrills ‘n’ chills of our Pirate Adventure Park. Travel into another world on the mysterious Westport House Express train ride and have even more fun than you can shake a broomstick at while on board the swinging ship and pedal Go Karts before a final wicked trip on the log flume water ride.  The park is open from 1pm to 5pm daily.

Make sure you get in the spirit of things by dressing up in Halloween costumes!
To find out where to stay over this ghoulish holiday check out www.destinationwestport.com/placestostay

Fireworks Extravaganza & Fancy Dress

If you’re in Westport House for the October bank holiday weekend, you will definitely get a treat (no tricks promise) with an explosive Fireworks Extravaganza and haunting Halloween dance on the front lawn of Westport House.  Make sure you dress to impress and look scarily good as you could be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes in the costume competition – adults too!  The Fireworks Extravaganza is only €5 per person or €4 for annual pass holders.

September 27th to October 6th

Now in its 38th year the Westport Arts Festival has gone from strength to strength. It is an entirely voluntary organisation, from a dedicated production team to the volunteers checking tickets on the door, it is the volunteer’s dedication to the festival ensures that delivers a genuine welcome to audiences both from home and abroad.

The devoted committee of the Westport Arts Festival work all year round striving to source top quality performers and events to bring to Westport and this year promises to be one of the best yet with an exciting, quirky and diverse line-up of the finest acts and events. Every aspect of artistic endeavor is represented during the 10 day festival, music, literature, dance, visual arts, theatre, film, comedy, children’s, free and family events…it’s all here in Westport!

The music line-up this year includes singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes, who has won hearts and minds with her eclectic blend of folk, prog rock and electronica. Hayes will play an intimate seated gig, with support from Hidden Highways and Ian O’Doherty.

Colm Mac Con Iomaire, a musician as famous for his associations with The Frames and Kíla as he is as a musician in his own right, is also playing this year. Chiefly known as a violin player, Mac Con Iomaire also turns his deft hand to banjo, cello, guitar, bouzouki and keyboards.

Westport Arts Festival

Other musical treats include New York based folk-rock singer/songwriter Michael Brunnock; Rarely Seen Above Ground (AKA Kilkenny multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Hickey) and funky pop purveyors Lamont/Bailey/Wall; a reggae night with three live bands – Harry J and the Conspiracy, Serious Mischief and The Bionic Rats – and a DJ set from local resident Dj Uri Kohen; jazz/pop/funk and R&B Jazz fusion band The Paul Dunlea Group

The comedy line-up brings the king of comic timing and delivery, Tyrone stand-up Kevin McAleer to Westport as well as a fantastic night of comedy featuring some of Ireland’s most promising comedians under the same roof; an evening with Robbie Bonham and Fred Cooke hosted by Ryan Cullen.

Visual art makes up a sizeable chunk of this year’s festival. Topping the bill are two exhibitions – ‘Island’, by Pat Harris, and ‘An Rinn Rua’, by Linda Ruttelynck, at The Custom House Gallery at The Quay. A member of Aosdána, Harris lives in Belgium and teaches painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. His show includes landscapes in which small coastal islands and rocks off the north coast of Mayo ‘hesitantly emerge from uniform mists comprised of sea and sky only to be captured and pinned down to the surface in paint’.

Also based in Antwerp, Linda Ruttelynck has visited and worked in the landscape of north Mayo for many years. In 2004, she was awarded a fellowship at the Ballinglen Arts Foundation at Ballycastle, giving her the time and space to deepen her contact with the area. The exhibition shows a selection of photographic works based on ‘An Rinn Rua’, a beach in the Barony of Erris.

There are some great free and family events this year at the Westport Arts Festival; Jack Wise street magician, ventriloquist, comedian and sword swallower will perform three free shows on Saturday September 28th. Other free events are Monsieur Gusto “Escapologist”, Vaudeville Fire Stilt walker Ariel Killick, Embrace the Fire fire show, a reading of “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Guido De Clown and many, many more. Among our children’s and family events are; Spraoi – a bilingual show about how to communicate with each other, Tic Teac, Tic Teac is another bilingual show for children ages 3 -5 celebrating the child’s journey of growth, exploration, learning and development. We also have The Brothers Dimm puppet show give their versions of the brothers Grimm fairy tales. And for the older children (10+) there is The Children of the Black Skirt – Think Roald Dahl meets Charles Dickens under the harsh Australian sun!

There will also be an Ariel Circus this year performed by PaperDolls called “Eccentric Ladies”, who are currently wowing audiences at this year’s Dublin Fringe Festival with their new show “Bunk”. Set in amongst the trees of The Westport Woods Hotel, a long banquet table underneath the forest canopy will make for a perfect aerial view-point, and a refreshing forest detour.

Spend time with the interesting characters of the woods, as the Ladies and friends delight, charm, tickle you pink, with their host of fancies, bloomers and frills, aerial circus treats and acrobatic feats! A live carnival band will tell the tales of the good life of such lively folk.

Among the theatre billings is ‘The Sand Park’, written and performed by Seamus O’Rourke. The play centres on Offaly man James Anthony Lowery, a farmer and GAA fan, as he contemplates life and death at the graveside of his wife and son. Dance lovers will undoubtedly flock to Irish Modern Dance Theatre’s premiere of ‘Magnetic’, described as ‘An explosive new work based on energy and ecstasy in three sections’, at Hotel Westport.

Fans of the written word will be excited by the festival’s literary line-up, which includes readings by Dermot Healy, Terry McDonnagh, John F Deane, Manchán Magan and short-story writers Mike McCormack and Hugo Kelly, as well as a poetry competition and a poetry slam.

The Westport Arts Film Event 2013 focuses on independent film shorts. A one-day event, it will include the screening of 18 shorts and a live discussion with directors Nicky Dowd, Chris Thomas, Richard Standen and Tom Stanley.

 This year’s Westport Arts Festival runs from September 27th to October 6th in the county Mayo town. There are over 100 events to choose from, with Season Tickets at a reasonable €100. Many events are free with all tickets €15 or less. You can see the entire programme and purchase event tickets on our website www.westportartsfestival.com and to find where to stay or what to do while in Westport check www.destinationwestport.com.