Following the success of last years weaving demo this year will continue with Padraig Larkin. Padraig will show his talent to the town showing his style of traditional craft. From 11am to 5pm on the Saturday of the event the demo will take place at Crank House. The demo will be free and available for everyone to view.\
Creative Writing Workshop with Eileen Casey
In an age where correspondence is chiefly characterised by text messaging, this workshop seeks to rediscover the joys of other forms of communication. During WWI, such forms were particularly significant as a means of keeping alive the memory of loved ones.
The Bamforth Song Series Postcards, for example, were a popular way for those at home to correspond with their loved ones at the Front. The workshop will feature a set of six such postcards which formed part of a correspondence between sweethearts in 1914 and although the messages are short, they are extremely poignant.
Participants are invited to explore the impact of such forms and how these little gems have an enduring resonance in contemporary times. Letters and diaries as valuable writing formats and inspirational treasures will also be included.
Facilitator Eileen Casey is a widely published poet, writer and journalist. A Hennessy Award winning Writer, she has published collections of poetry (New Island) and short fiction (Arlen House) and her work is anthologised by Faber & Faber, New Island, Arlen House, Dedalus Press, among others. She was a prize-winner with An Post Letter Writing Awards and Bealtaine’s Letter Writing Competition organised by the National Gallery, Dublin.
We are delighted to have Damian O Brien back with us this year – you will have the opportunity to explore the basics of this traditional craft. The workshop will cover basic techniques of pottery and the participants will be encouraged to work on a small piece of work.
Duration – 2 hour workshop
(includes materials) No previous pottery skills required.
Damian has been involved with the making of functional ware for the last twenty years. He has travelled extensively throughout the Middle East and Europe and experienced many different cultures. He is now based near the historic site of Clonmacnoise. His deep connection with the history and landscape of Westmeath influences the earthy, organic, physical shapes, of the mainly salt glazed, woodfired wares. Damian’s main interest lies in the physical process of the woodfire kiln. This, combined with the unpredictability of the finish lends his pots a highly individual and distinctive look.
Ever wanted to learn how to make your very own COMIC?
Join Alan for Cartoon Capers to learn how he became a cartoonist and create your own cartoon with him. We have two workshops designed to suit boys and girls from 5yrs of age. (booking essential)
Date – 21st July 2017
Time – 11.30am – 1.00pm Ages 5yrs to 9yrs
Time – 2.00pm – 3.30pm Ages 10yrs to 13yrs
Location – Crank House
Fee – €5.00pp (to be paid on the day)
Alan Nolan is the author and illustrator of The Big Break Detectives Casebook, the Murder Can Be Fatal Mysteries series of graphic novels and the humorous hurling novel Fintan’s Fifteen. His latest children’s illustrated novel, Conor’s Caveman is about a boy and girl who find a caveman frozen in a glacier in the Wicklow mountains, and is available now!
His next novel Sam Hannigan’s Woof Week, about a girl who accidentally becomes brain-swapped with a dog, will be released in August. Alan lives in Bray, County Wicklow with his wife and three sons and a cat called Chewie. Chewie is the only member of the family who doesn’t regularly steal any of Alan’s pencils.
To say that the festival for “”That Beats Banagher 2017” has something for everybody is no idle boast. If you’re interested in activities in crafts, sports or history we have something for you.
That Beats Banagher is a festival designed to celebrate all things Banagher. Banagher will host a special Miscellany and Edwardian Tea Party to commemorate and remember Banagher families involved in WW1. Come and dress in your best period outfit to be in with a chance to be awarded with a prize for the best dressed guest!
Those coming to Banagher to explore the majestic Shannon can enjoy a taster of open canadian canoeing, wake boarding or SUP – standup paddleboarding. There will also be an opportunity to join the crew on the local long boat “The Sionn Mara”. If dry land suits you more then we also have blitzes and games at St Rynaghs GAA, craft workshops and demonstrations and zorbing by the Shannon.
If you’d prefer something more relaxing we have writing workshops, comic-book classes, readings and recitals. There will also be live music every day.
And what festival is complete without a blast of fireworks. On Saturday night the skies over the town will be ablaze with light and colour.
Yes there’s all of that and more from Friday, July 21st to Sunday, July 23rd at “That Beats Banagher 2017.”
Come along and sample the finest food and craft from the Banagher area and beyond. Following on from the hugely successful Christmas food and craft fair “That Beats Banagher” are delighted to see the return of this wonderful event! There will be something for everyone including local food, craft and a boat building exhibition.
From 12.00pm to 5.00pm in Banagher square.
Some of the talented makers are:
– Home Baking
– Preserves & Jams
– Slate Art
– Knitting
– Crocheting
– Jewellery
– Hand Painted Craft
– Timber Craft
– Home decor.
– Cards
– Gift Sets
Michaela Keenaghan preforming ‘Wuthering Heights’
There will be a treat of homegrown live music in the square, Banagher on Friday 13th May.
Come along and join the fun from 7pm to 10pm.
All Welcome!
Performers include:
Little White Lies
1st & 2nd years Coláiste Na Sionna, Banagher
Michaela Keenaghan
Comhaltas
Emmet Cox
MC for the evening: Tadhg Cox
Aine Cox accompanied by Tadhg Cox
Duration – 1 1/2 hour workshop
During the workshop each child would make their own little book. It would be a picture book with words and images with about 8/10 pages.
Workshop based on the work of Charlotte Bronte where you will read and made a cartoon strip based on it.
Date: Saturday 14th May 2016
Duration – 1 1/2 hour workshop
Times: 11.00am to 1.00pm
Venue: Crank House, Banagher, Co Offaly
Fee: €5.00pp (to be paid on the day)
Illustrator and Author Dolores Keaveney
I am a self published author/illustrator of children’s picture books. I am an artist and have been painting for the best part of 40 years and have had many exhibitions. My art is vibrant, colourful, loose and uplifting. I get my inspiration from my garden when in summertime it is packed full of beautiful flowers. I decided to self publish because I had read up and researched a lot about self publishing over the previous year and I felt it was a route which I would like to take as it was a challenging way to go about publishing a book. I realised from the start that it would be a daunting journey but I felt I still wanted to go this route. In 2009 I launched my first picture book ‘If I were a bee’… This book was a great success for me and spurred me on to write and illustrate more.
For more information on Dolores you can visit her website here
