Welcome to Rathmines Festival 2009

Thursday, 23 April – Sunday, 26 April
Rathmines Festival Office, Swan Centre (by Dunnes Stores) from Monday 20/04, noon to 7pm.

Rathmines Festival is a dynamic series of arts, sports and cultural events that aims to provide a quality and vibrant experience to Rathmines and its environs. Their organising committee want to create a diverse programme with something for everyone. This year the aim has certainly been achieved.

The opening night duties will be performed by national broadcaster, Anne Doyle, in Leinster Cricket Club with music by Big Swing band. Late each night of the Festival there will be a Festival Music Club catering to all music tastes. An exciting Friday night sees Girl’s Night with singers Luan Parle, Roberta Howett and Donna Dunne. There’ll also be Urban Art (teenagers can just come along and join in with the art making) with the great Maser accompanied by a faction of BMX bikers. This is followed by a stunning light projection show on Portobello College.

Aine Lawlor of Morning Ireland will interview renowned and controversial journalist Mary Kenny on her life and works. Ms Kenny will also take questions from the audience so don’t miss a chance to see one of Ireland’s early feminists turned conservative.

For drama there is an extra special production of Macbeth followed by a discussion on the themes of the play. This is aimed at Leaving Certificate students but is open to all who enjoy classical drama. Pat Kinevane will perform his acclaimed one-man show “Forgotten” which reveals the interconnecting stories of four elderly people, living in retirement homes and care facilities around Ireland. It is both challengingly dark and startlingly hilarious and is a fusion of European and Japanese Kabuki theatrical styles.

“Intonations” an art exhibition by prominent local, national and new artists will take place in Swan Centre. Rathmines Library will host, amongst other events, with a distinctive presentation, Castles in the Air, to celebrate the prolific poet and broadcaster Louis MacNeice. Rathmines & Rathgar Active Retirement Association will also have an exhibition of their works.

Atmospheric, haunting music comes from 3epkano who will perform original contemporary live scores to classics of silent cinema. Also on this gig is the wonderful Cormac McCann.

Comedy is compliments of Karl Spain. Probably best known for his TV series Karl Spain Wants A Woman which was a huge success. Karl’s comedy is celebrated internationally so now its time to laugh along in Rathmines.
On top of all this there is Family Day, a children's circus school from France, films and documentaries, talks and walks, tai chi and sports.
Don’t miss a second of it!

Queries
085 124 2504 or rathminesfestival@gmail.com or see rathminesfestival.com for more details.