North Belfast gets Féile fever
Festival fever is on us once again with the launch this week of
two north Belfast Féiles.
The New Lodge Féile was launched at the Ashton centre on Tuesday
21 July by Sinn Féin Assembly member, Gerry Kelly. It will run
from 4 - 8 August and will include sports events, workshops, bus
runs, poker drives, computer classes, concerts and even a teddy
bears' picnic.
Main events will include a Family fun night at 7pm on Tuesday 4
August, assembling at Duncairn Parade and incorporating an adult
and children's disco with Pado's roadshow, street entertainers
and fire eaters. There will be a tribute concert to the late
Paddy McManus in St Kevin's Hall on Thursday 6 August at 8pm.
This will feature Gerry Maguire & Azure, and the band More Power
To Your Elbow.
Most of the events are free although there is a £3 fee for
concerts in St Kevin's Hall with all profits being put back into
community events.
The Ardoyne Féile was launched the following on Wednesday at the
Ardoyne Community Centre by former community activist of the
year, Brendan Bradley, and will run from 2 - 9 August.
It too has a packed programme of events and will include a number
of major concerts, notably a free open air gig by the Wolfe
Tones..The Whole Shebang theatre Company presents `Out Of It' at
the Pop Bar at 7.30pm on Tuesday 4 August.
Other delights here include a baseball match featuring the
Ardoyne Red Socks at 3pm on Saturday 8 August on the Bone pitch
in Ardoyne. It's worth reminding all prospective players that
this is NOT a contact sport!
On the same day, at the same time, on the Holy Cross school pitch
there is the Strongman Competition. So if you think you're `well
`ard' have a go at this one which includes arm wrestling and tug
o' war events.
So whether you are young or old, energetic or idle, there's sure
to be something to suit every taste at both festivals. A complete
what's on where guide can be obtained from the relevant festival
office.
Frank Cahill Memorial Lecture
This year's Frank Cahill Memorial Lecture, as part of the West
Belfast Festival, will be presented by Fr Des Wilson in the
Conway Mill Theatre on Monday 3 August at 8.00pm.
The lecture is entitled `We didn't take ``No'' for an answer.
Lessons from West Belfast.' It will explore the community's
development of social, culture and educational forums over the
last thirty years to address the problems of the area and release
the potential of its people.
Fr Wilson has worked in the west of the city for all of that time
and is currently the Director of Springhill Community House.
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