The Allingham Festival 2014 in Ballyshannon officially opened

Based in Ballyshannon, the Allingham Festival is a celebration of the life and works of one of our town’s most famous ancestor writer and poet William Allingham and his wife the artist Helen Allingham. Each year sees their memory celebrated with events and workshops that inspire others in their own achievements in the arts.

William Allingham ((1824 –89) an Irishman of letters and a widely published poet was a native of Ballyshannon and married to the celebrated English artist Helen Allingham. His ashes were returned to Ireland after his death in 1889 and buried at St Anne’s Church, Ballyshannon. The Festival celebrates the Allingham artistic legacy in Ballyshannon. This revival is one of many community projects trying to kick-start economic activity building on the unique historical and cultural identity of the town.

Last night, The 2014 Allingham Festival was officially opened by Minister Joe McHugh, the Keynote Speech by Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, the showcase presentation by Ms Neishaw Ali, President of the Toronto-based firm that creates special effects for GAME OF THRONES, the concert by Keith Mannion and SlowPlaceLikeHome and more.

WONDER OF WORDS will take place on the Saturday evening featuring Theo Dorgan, Donal Ryan, Paul

Lynch, the Poetry Divas, and a special tribute to Ballyshannon’s Cecil Stephens. Readers and writers may also be interested in the Saturday seminars with Donal Ryan and Paul Lynch, as well as the cutting-edge workshop on Digital Marketing for Writers and Artists. Residents of the North West would usually need to travel to Dublin for events like these which is why the Allingham Festival is bringing them to Ballyshannon.

Visit our website for more details