a wealth of Irish talent

Aspects 2005

ASPECTS literary festival returns to the Heritage Centre in Bangor for its 14th consecutive year and brings a wealth of Irish talent, covering all tastes and age ranges. From razor sharp political documentary, heart felt teenage angst, languorous poetic outpourings, the best cuisine in regional Ireland, to a secret “off the beaten track” tour of our own land, then taking us as far a field to the colonial sufferings of a Native American tribe. Add to those themes, the acclaimed pedigree of the presenting artists, and a gem of a festival, with the elite of this year’s Irish literary feast, is at your doorstep.

ASPECTS 2005 opens on Wednesday 21 September at 7pm with An Evening with Dr. Garret FitzGerald. The former journalist/ politician, who turns 80 next year, will take us through the highlights of his varied and high profile career in a fascinating autobiographical talk in the perfect setting of the Council Chambers. BBC Northern Ireland’s Mark Carruthers will formally introduce Dr FitzGerald.

Another political highlight of Ireland’s only literature festival includes Belfast-born Denis Tuohy, who famously interviewed Margaret Thatcher, reading from his new memoir “Wide-Eyed in Media-land”, a compassionate and good-humoured account of his journey through our turbulent times, on Thursday 22 September at 1.15pm. Former Festival Director Kenneth Irvine introduces two Dublin-born authors later that evening at 7pm; Niall Williams, previously short-listed for the Irish Times Literature Prize, reads from “Only Say The Word”, a lyrical novel of love and literature while Ferdia MacAnna reads from his latest memoir, “The Last of the Bald Heads”, published earlier this year to great critical acclaim.

One of ASPECTS favourite poets returns in the form of Sinead Morrissey. The award-winning Armagh bard reads from her latest offering, “The State of the Prisons”, a Poetry Book Society Recommendation for 2005. Billed alongside Sinead is Dennis O’Driscoll, considered one of the finest poets of our times and whose talent Seamus Heaney has acclaimed, reading from his “New and Selected Poems.” Galway based writer, Fred Johnston, introduces both poets on Thursday 22 September at 8.15pm.

More music has been introduced to the festival with local ladies Janet Holmes and Juliet Turner. Belfast-born Janet, who has recorded various sessions and concerts with UTV and BBC Radio Ulster, presents highlights from her latest country/ rock tinged cd, “The Road to the West” at her concert on Thursday 22 September at 9.30pm. Omagh-born Juliet, who has supported Bob Dylan, Sting, U2 and Bryan Adams, to name but a few, stumbled into making music and writing songs. She brings her sweet, yet quirky, sound to the Heritage centre on Saturday 24 September at 9.30pm.

On Friday 23 September an array of Irish talent will perform at a series of events throughout the day. Conservation expert, Robert Scott brings a breath of fresh air to the festival with his tribute to those who established the vast number of public parks and playing fields in Belfast at 1.15pm. North Down Heritage Centre Manager, Ian Wilson, introduces Dublin-born playwright Philip Davison, whose works have been produced by the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and RTE Radio, who leads a screenwriting workshop with places limited to fifteen at 3pm. At 7pm, Martina Devlin, who appeared at ASPECTS 2004, introduces two exceptional young Dublin based novelists, Karen Gillece and John Boyne, who talk about their very different experiences of becoming writers. Trained lawyer Gillece reads from her first novel, “Seven Nights in Zaragoza”, which became a best seller in February this year, while Boyne’s strong academic links with the University of East Anglia, where he studied Creative Writing and now has a Writing Fellowship, inspired him to create his fourth work, “A Certain Abdication”, from which he reads.

Festival Consultant Paul Perry presents two award-winning poets at 8.15pm. Leanne O’Sullivan, one of poetry’s brightest new stars, shares the deeply felt personal experiences of her tender years, from her first collection, “Waiting for my Clothes”. Joseph Woods, Director of Poetry Ireland, presents from his recently published, critically acclaimed, second collection, “Bearings”. Paul Perry then rushes off to the Royal Hotel for 9.30pm on Bangor’s sea front to introduce two diverse talents performing together, finishing off Friday’s events of the Festival. Belfast performance poet, Gearóid Mac Lochlainn’s bi lingual works in Irish and English have earned him glowing critical acclaim. Gearóid performs from his new book “Rakish Paddy Blues” set to the beautiful, haunting sounds performed by 19-year-old Jarlath Henderson, a former All-Ireland Uilleann Piper. A versatile musician, Jarlath, who has both taught and performed at a number of piping festivals on television and radio, also plays classical and traditional whistle, flute and guitar.

On Saturday, events kick off with “A Ginko” nature walk led by Gilles Fabre, head of Haiku Ireland, which starts at 10.30am through the Wildlife Trail in Castle Park, Bangor. Haiku follows the ancient Japanese art of writing nature-inspired poetry. The Ginko workshop at 3pm gives participants the opportunity to discuss their creations. At 1.15pm, Éamonn Ó Catháin, creator of Ireland’s award-winning cuisine guide, “Around Ireland with a Pan – Food, Tales and Recipes”, indulges us with his mouth-watering anecdotes and the best regional Irish dishes around today.
At 4pm, Young Aspects Showcase, supported by Bloomfield Centre, gives young people the opportunity to present their own poems and stories on the main stage in the Castle Garden Room to family and friends. Intrepid climber, bi lingual writer and broadcaster, Dermot Somers, who has presented on RTE and TG4 will talk about his adventures and cultural encounters worldwide, while reading from his own writings in Irish and English at 7pm after which, poet, travel writer and reviewer Rosita Boland takes us on a journey closer to home, with readings from her new book, “A Secret Map of Ireland”.

Two well-travelled females, American born Molly McCloskey and Nigerian born Órfhlaith Foyle are invited by writer/ reviewer Evelyn Conlon to discuss their latest issues at 8.15pm. Molly’s first long novel, “Protection”, has been acclaimed as “a comic dissection of contemporary Ireland” by fellow novelist Colum McCann, while Órfhlaith’s first novel “Belois” has been described as dark, rough and funny.

On Sunday at 3pm, BBC Northern Ireland’s Seamus McKee introduces Anglo-Irish journalist/broadcaster Mary Kenny, who will discuss “Allegiances”, a dramatised account of Michael Collins’ meeting with Winston Churchill, and “Germany Calling”, a personal biography of Lord Haw-Haw. Robert Welch, University of Ulster’s Dean of Arts, formally introduces the final event on Sunday at 4.45pm, presented by esteemed columnist and drama critic, Fintan O’Toole whose fascinating new book “White Savage: Sir William Johnson and the Invention of America”, follows the story of a white fur trader who marries an Iroquois native with treacherous consequences.

Aspects Booking Office
The Heritage Centre,
Town Hall,
Bangor,
BT20 4BT
(028) 9127 1200.

source - http://www.northdown.gov.uk/news_detail.asp?id=71&area=4&aName=Council