The Ardoyne Fleadh
Armour-plated entertainment
Despite the ongoing campaign of loyalist violence in North
Belfast, the annual Ardoyne Fleadh has hit the ground running.
The festivities opened with a colourful parade last Sunday, 29
July, and pride of place this year went to Ballymurphy man Joe
Corbett, who led the parade in a former British Army Humber
armoured troop carrier.
Nicknamed the `Pig', the Humber was an unwelcome but all too
common sight in nationalist areas during the conflict, so to see
it now as part of the Ardoyne Fleadh was a novelty. Corbett
bought the vehicle over the Internet and intends using it to give
visitors to Belfast a guided tour of nationalist areas.
As usual, the Ardoyne Fleadh has something for everyone and this
year the gig rig with its various musical delights will again
tour the area, setting up in a different place every evening.
Despite being in the news for all the wrong reasons, Rosaleen
Walsh's play, `Final Encore' was staged in the Golden Thread
Theatre on Tuesday night and was well received by its audience.
``It gave so many insights into its subject, teenage suicide, and
will have made people think so much about this issue,'' said one
member of the audience.
Not to be missed is the historical tour of North Belfast, which
promises to uncover many of the hidden historical facts of this
part of the city. The Tour kicks off at the Fleadh office at
10.30am on Thursday morning. On Thursday evening, the hunger
strike drama, ``The Laughter of Our Children'', is being staged in
the Golden Threads Theatre in the Brookfield Mill.
d as the weekend draws in, there is the promise of Irish
traditional and folk music in Ardoyne's many venues, arguably
best appreciated with a modicum of liquid entertainment. As they
say in the programme, Miss it and miss out!!!
For details call Belfast (90) 751 056