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The 10th annual Rostrevor Literary Festival took place in the village on Saturday in front of a sold out audience. Writers from all over Ireland took part, including Fergal Keane, Ardal O’Hanlon and Dara McAnulty.
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William Graham, a member of the Festival Committee and its founder, said it was one of the most successful events ever, and particularly fitting in the year the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary.
“I would like to pay a tribute to my fellow festival committee organisers - Jane Kelly, Carrie Alexander, Csilla Toldy and Fionnbharr Rodgers for the huge amount of work they have put in to make all of this possible,” Graham said.
The festival opened with Dara McAnulty, the naturalist, writer and environmental campaigner, who talked on stage with Jane Kelly, one of the key organisers of the event.
Fergal Keane, one of the world’s most distinguished foreign correspondents, appeared in conversation with Graham, a former Political Correspondent. Actor, comedian and novelist Ardal O’Hanlon, who is best known for his roles in Father Ted, Death in Paradise and Derry Girls, was interviewed by Festival committee member and poet Fionnbharr Rodgers.
The programme also included contributions from Dublin based poet Jane Robinson and from the Arlen House Irish women writers Nessa O’Mahony, Csilla Toldy, Rosemary Jenkinson, Maureen Boyle and Dierdre Cartmill.
The festival closed with Daniel Mulhall talking about W B Yeats and the Ireland of his time. Mr Mulhall is a retired Irish Ambassador who served in London and Washington, and is an expert on Irish history and literature.
The second day of the festival included a writers’ memoir workshop with Maureen Boyle and an open mic session with Matthew McGrath was held at Crawford’s Bar in the Rostrevor Inn.
The festival was supported by Newry, Down and Mourne Council and part funded through the Community Events and Festival Grant.
