Leitrim high note with water music

Carrick wishes to take its place among the festival-bearing towns of the land. As a centre of boating excellence it is famous, but a more elevated cultural label is sought. So its leading citizens have created the Carrick-on-Shannon water music festival, the first incarnation of which starts tonight with a session on Opera Appreciation, and gets into full costume with a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni on Saturday, writes Angela Long

Opera in Carrick? Why not, says local estate agent and moving spirit of the festival, Liam Farrell.

"This thing started as a germ of an idea last year, especially with a local chap who was involved in the Lough Crew Garden Opera in Oldcastle, Co Meath. He mentioned it to various people, and then I heard about it and, as I have an interest in music, it appealed to me."

The local authority and the local chamber of commerce threw their weight behind the project, and now all they have to worry about is the weather.

The aim is to have fun, be transported by the beauty of the sounds, for sure, but also to boost the profile of Carrick, a lovely town that in the all-too-frequent Irish fashion takes a rather insouciant attitude towards its river. "Carrick is an attractive town, and we want to bring people here, let them see it and think about it as a place to live," says Farrell. "But we also wanted a good quality cultural event, an annual one that we hope will last longer and attract international performers in future years."

He stressed that, although opera might give a high tone to the proceedings, the aim is to be inclusive and attract a wide audience. With that in mind the programme includes a jazz event on Friday, and the 16-piece Sligo Early Music Ensemble, which will present a Baroque concert tomorrow evening at 8pm in St Mary's Church, Main Street, (tickets €10 at the door).

A cabaret evening with Opera A La Carte Company is an informal presentation of opera arias and other pieces, Friday at 8pm in the Festival Marquee on Summerhill.

As an added incentive to turn up, all fringe events, which include puppeteers, Finnish mime artists and book readings, are free. "The chamber of commerce has been very good, and has agreed to underwrite us for this year," says Farrell.

They hope to balance the books, and a modest profit would be far from undesirable. Most events are ticketed, with the gala opera night €55 a head.

As well as aural delights, the Carrickonians are eager to promote the town's restaurants, claiming that their home is becoming the gourmet capital of the West (well, Leitrim, anyway).

For details, contact the Festival Booking Office, 4 Landmark Court, Carrick-On-Shannon. Tel: (071) 9622245

www.carrickwatermusic.com