THE annual West Belfast Festival opened yesterday with a 1,000 people taking part in a carnival parade on the Falls Road. Concerts, plays, films, photographic exhibitions and political debates will be held over the next week.
Feile an Phobail was officially launched by Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams. "It is an uplifting example of the creativity, imagination and resilience of communities throughout the city," he said. "I want to commend everyone involved and I hope you all enjoy the many diverse events which are planned."
The Classic, a play by the Transatlantic Theatre company about the murder of Michael Collins, is being staged.
The award winning comedy group, the Hole in the Wall Gang, will perform in St Agnes Parish Centre on Tuesday night. Another play, Just A Prisoner's Wife will open in Ballymurphy on Tuesday. There will also be international music nights with Latin jazz groups and Basque musicians.
There will be exhibitions commemorating internment, the 80th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the travelling community, and the lives of women in west Belfast. Another will centre on the Battle of the Somme.
Dr Margaret MacCurtain of UCD will speak at a debate on Irish women's history. There will also be a question and answers session on the peace process. The Fianna Fail deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke TD, and Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness are expected to take part.
There will also be open air discos, karaoke, football, hurling and camogie tournaments, bingo sessions, snooker competitions and street quizzes during the week.
Festival director Ms Kate Pickering said the vent gave "constructive and vibrant expression to the political and cultural ethos of this community".