'That Beats Banagher' festival is back!
After a Covid hiatus, the ever-popular ‘That Beats Banagher’ Festival returns this year with a packed programme of literary, cultural and sporting events to suit all ages and all interests.
The 9th Banagher Festival takes place from Friday to Sunday, July 22 to 24, and the official launch of the programme of events takes place on Thursday night next, July 7, in Crank House at 6.30pm.
With literary events forming the backbone of the festival, well-known poet, essayist, librettist and drama critic, Jessica Traynor, will read at the launch from a suite of poems she has written about Banagher, called ‘A Place of Pointed Stones.’ Jessica’s thought-provoking and entertaining poems cover such topics as ‘Saint Rynagh and the Bishop,’ the phrase ‘That Beats Banagher’ and also ‘Banagher Horse Fair.’ She has also written poems about local folklore, cures and the changeable weather!
A limited number of copies of Jessica’s poetry book will be available for purchase on the night and are sure to prove very popular with locals and visitors alike.
The three-day festival in Banagher will feature a food and craft fair, craft workshops, bookmaking for children, a long puck competition across the Shannon and also canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding on the river.
Younger visitors to the ‘That Beats Banagher’ Festival will also be well catered for, with a novel outdoor evening cinema experience, and a whole host of other events to keep the children entertained.
As part of the literary programme, two books on Charlotte Bronte’s honeymoon will be launched on the first evening of the festival, Friday, July 22, at 6.30pm in Crank House. The renowned English author and poet had a very strong connection with Banagher through her marriage to a local man named Arthur Bell Nicholls.
The authors of the two books on Charlotte Bronte’s honeymoon, Pauline Clooney and Michael O’Dowd, will discuss the interesting life of the eldest of the three Bronte sisters, and will be happy to answer questions from the audience at the launch of their books.
On Saturday evening, July 23, a very interesting book launch is set to take place at 5pm when novelist, Patrick Flattery, will launch his witty book which is ironically titled ‘That Beats Banagher.’ The fast-moving novel, tells the story of Patrick’s ancestor, Robert, who lived near Banagher and became involved in the Fenian Movement.
Two local writers, Lynn Moloney from Banagher and Mary Madden from Portumna will speak about their self-publishing experiences during Covid. Lynn published a book of poems for young children called ‘Fairy Wonderland of Rhymes; while Mary has written two novels that focus on romantic and family situations in contemporary Ireland called ‘Celia’s Promise’ and ‘The Man On The Bus.’