This year’s annual Féile Na Bealtaine, on the Dingle Peninsula, which begins tonight with the beginning of summer, has poetry, painting, piano and plays, along with the usual mix of politics, in Irish and English.
The festival was begun 18 years ago by local doctor and poet Micheál Fanning, featuring readings and music. He died on Christmas Eve 2010, at the age of 56, but his spirit lives on, and a packed programme this week has attracted some of the most exciting names on the cultural scene.
The festival is heavily musical this year, fun music that is, a reflection perhaps of Peadar Ó Fionnáin, the doctor’s son, who is an accomplished musician and is feidhmí – or chief functionary – this year.
Dervish, described by the programme as “Ireland’s most exciting tradition-rooted band”, kick-starts the weekend tonight.
On the literary front, writer Colm Tóibín will read and take questions at the Blasket Centre overlooking Dunquin tomorrow, while other literary highlights include poetry led by Moya Cannon at lunchtime tomorrow.
Socialist TD Joe Higgins, a local man, takes part on a discussion panel for the Monday political symposium, along with Harry McGee of The Irish Times and Elaine Byrne, an academic and journalist.
The festival runs from May 4th-7th. The office is in the Temperance Hall in Dingle, and the number is 087-7994488.