Swift Satire Festival, Trim 2014

The 2014 Swift Satire Festival draws to a close. A slimmer version, but hugely enjoyable. Well done to all involved.

Congratulations to the winner of the Battle of the Books competition winner, Angela Finn from Dublin. The ten shortlisted entries were read last night and the judge, Niamh Boyce, commented on each and announced the winner. Niamh and Angela pictured above.

The ten shortlisted authors were Caroline Carey Finn, Meath, Kate Ennals, Cavan, Darragh McManus, Clare, Emma Mascarenhas, UK, Peter Goulding, Dublin, Briony Hey, London, Karen O’Connor, Tralee,
Caroline Bracken, Wicklow, Angela Finn,  Dublin and Mark Doyle, Navan.

Angela Finn has had some of her writing published in the Irish Independent’s Hennessy Irish Writing Today magazine, New Planet Cabaret anthology, RTE TEN website (Penguin short story 2012) and Fish Anthology 2013. She was short-listed in 2012 for the RTE Francis MacManus competition.

There were two extra judges, Peter Higgins and myself, (above) whose irrelevant and irreverent comments on the entries were designed to confuse rather than to assist the audience in their vote for their favourite entry. One of my choices, Mark Doyle's entry, was chosen as the audience prize winner.

The Kevin Higgins reading and open mic was held in the open air at the Old Rectory, Trim. This was well appreciate by the attendance. Kevin's read from his latest poetry collection and said that he has chosen those which most seemed in keeping with the savage satiric spirit of Swift. The audience loved them.

More photographs here on Facebook.
The Festival website.
Kevin Higgins' blog and his Facebook page.
Blogs by shortlisted author, Kate Ennels and and by competition judge, Niamh Boyce.

Sixth Swift Satire Festival, Trim

Full details of the Sixth Swift Satire Festival, Trim, Co. Meath, which will be held from 4 July to 7 July 2013, have been posted on the website.

This annual event celebrates the life, works and legacy of Jonathan Swift by bringing together distinguished guests from the arts, politics, the media and comedy to celebrate satire.

Swift was appointed vicar in Laracor, just out the road from Trim, in 1700. The author of such famous satires as Gulliver’s Travels, A Tale Of A Tub and A Modest Proposal, had many firm friends in the town of Trim itself.

The full programme is on the website as is a downloadable brochure.

The launch takes place on Thursday 4 July at 8pm in the Trim Castle Hotel. Admission is free, wine and canapés will be served and the launch will be followed by the first event of this year’s festival, the perennial staple of  The Battle of the Books, the satire competition between keen rival groups Meath Writers Circle and Boyne Writers Group. This takes place at 9pm, also in the Trim Castle Hotel. Admission: €5.

A novel event (Pun! - Gulliver's Travels is usually considered to be a novel) is The Gulliver Gathering reading. All 302 pages of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels will be read by 302 people (one page per reader) in the biggest simultaneous reading event ever undertaken in Ireland. Places can be pre-booked on the website.

This takes place on Saturday 5 July. Registration of readers from 11.30am on the day, and the reading will start at 1pm sharp. Venue: Trim Castle grounds (opposite Garda Station). Don't miss being part of this!

Other events include: A Bite of Satire in the company of President Michael D. Higgins: Eneclann Genealogical Roadshow: Poetry in Motion: Project Swift – a spectacular projection of the life, travels and works of Jonathan Swift: Satire-Day Comedy Festival: Satire-Day Evening Show: Oliver Callan’s Satire Circus: The Swift Round Table with Barry Murphy, Alan Shortt and Very Special Guests: The Swift Tour.

Full details on the website.