The Heart of Ireland Festival happily took to the streets of Mullingar on Tuesday to take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade. Their entry was topped by a giant Hi logo and tailed by the infamous Delboy, captained as ever by Al Boyhan. “We were thrilled when Al offered to be part of our entry,” explains Melanie Lynch. “With the help of Tommy Nally in Rochfort’s we were able to get ‘wired for sound’ and Jacqueline Feely and I chose the upbeat music.
Again, like our recent launch in Mullingar, this was a triumph of community spirit. We called on close friends to come on board, which they did and Aine Farrell invited some pupils from St Kenny’s School to join us. With Mullingar Arts Centre lending us costumes and Evan Connolly creating the giant H and I letters which have been showing up around town since it all came magically together. And it was a lot of fun too!”
Messing at a photocall outside Mullingar Arts Centre on Wednesday, Sean Lynch, joking, turned the Hi “I” into a golf club which in truth captured perfectly the fact that Mullingar Arts Centre is swinging into action to support this new event in every way they can. The first ever final of the Heart of Ireland Competition will take place in the Arts Centre on July 12th. Furthermore, Sean has been able to schedule the National Chamber Orchestra for Friday, 10 July, which will set a classy tone for the first Heart of Ireland Street Festival on 11/12 July.
So far, the Heart of Ireland team have concentrated on getting the word out to the greater Mullingar community, through activities like the local launch last November, the bunting project for the 52 local primary schools, the Beef to the Heels Restaurant competition and weekly updates in the local papers, building vital local interest and support. Plans are progressing rapidly for the national/ international launch which will take place in early April (details to be announced next week). Full details of the nomination process will be available at this launch, when an illustration of the Street Festival’s 100 Year Timeline will be unveiled.
“We are working on the Festival promo film with two very talented locals, Paul Timoney and Conor English. For now we can reveal that Melanie, whose background is in international advertising, is writing the script which will be filmed by Conor, with Paul as the leading man.”
On Monday, 16 March, with a focus on the Diaspora and Irishness, they seized the opportunity to promote the event on the Joe Duffy Show. “I was tipped off to call the show. The researcher advised that there was no guarantee that we’d be getting a call back but we did,” expands Maria Bourke. “When Ronan rang me back he was running through a set of questions: “Why do you think this is going to be successful?” As I took a moment to ponder my answer he immediately cut in, “Sorry! That sounds so cynical. I think this is a great idea.” And it’s when you get a reaction like that from someone up to their necks day in day out in festivals and events at national level that you know we’re onto a winner with this concept.” You can catch the interview on the RTÉ 1 podcast.
For more information on the Heart of Ireland Festival visit www.heartofireland.ie. If you are in a position to make a donation to this local not-for- profit’ organisation you can do so online using the donate button on the website. If you have time available to volunteer please email info@heartofireland.ie. To be kept up to date, follow us on FB /heartofirelandfestival and Twitter /hi_ireland.
