Maria Edgeworth Festival 2019

Our first day of the Literary Festival 20219 was centred on students – Transition Year students from St Mel’s College. They were guided around the historic sites of the town by Matt Farrell. In addition they were also treated to a talk on health and wellness by Laura Thompson. 

On Friday we had an Edgeworthstown Literary Trail Walk at 2pm with visitors from Australia. Thereafter followed a Children’s Event at 6pm. Congratulations to all the children who won or were highly commended for their poems. Nuala O’Connor was the judge for the competition. The Children’s Choir (directed by Noreen Grant, Kate Crossan and Sinead O’Ferrall) performed for us.

Mostrim Youth Players (directed by Kate O’Donohoe) presented a play “The Lady of the Fertile Ridge” written by Pauline Flood.

Day 3 of the Edgeworth Literary Festival 2019. Our Competition judges Nuala O’Connor and Paul McVeigh gave Poetry and Short Story Workshops.

Furthermore, Noreen McLoughlin, local ecologist took us on a walk around Glen Lake Preserve.

Later in the afternoon new murals were unveiled on the Granard Road. Artist Phil Atkinson did great work presenting vivid colourful images.

Finally, in the evening there were performances of poetry, prose, song and music in the Manor. Nuala O’Connor and Paul McVeigh presented there adjudication remarks and read from their own work. Prize-winners who could make it also read their winning entries. Eleanor Quaine, Aidan O’Hara and Joe Callaghan branch of CCE performed music and song to round out the third day of the Festival.

Check out the Festival Video section for videos from this event.

It’s time for our first ever 18th Century Tea Party!

Lots of people got dressed up in costumes for the occasion, weather was great and there were guest performers who kept the guests entertained through the afternoon. It was a fantastic end to a great festival – everything came together so well on the day. Paula Hussey provided the catering, Paula McEnroe and Dream Occasions provided the décor, Des Rynn the sound, Laura Doyle provided the children’s games – MC for the day was Jimmy Connell, volunteers kept the tea and treats supplied to the guests and of course we had our guests who all gave us very positive feedback and we think this will be a feature of our Festival in the coming years.