I must add sincere thanks to Nicola Corless, journalist with The Clare Champion and to the newspaper itself for their generous coverage of and support for ‘The Forge at Gort’ festival both recently and previously. I must apologise sincerely for any omission of the paper or of Nicola in my circulated ‘thank-yous,’ which were prepared after the festival. I am responsible for this careless omission and am truly sorry for the oversight. - Fred Johnston

http://www.clarechampion.ie/

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“THE SUN SHONE having no alternative, on the nothing new.” Samuel Beckett’s words did not apply in Gort, Co. Galway, over the weekend.

The third ‘Forge at Gort’ literary festival, ran on March 26th and 27th. But it goes without saying that the festival would not have gone ahead had it not been for the goodwill and active support of a considerable number of organisations and individuals.

A special word of thanks must go to Keith Finnegan at Galway Bay FM radio and to the staff of Clare FM radio and to Kernan Andrews at the Galway Advertiser and the editor of the Galway Independent; to Judy Murphy at The City Tribune and Andrew Hamilton and others at The Clare People newspaper, to individuals at RTE (TV and radio) at Donnybrook, Dublin, who were more than helpful, in particular the team at RTE’s Arena. The Western Writers’Centre (Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude) is particularly grateful to our direct sponsors: Galway County Council: Minihane’s Supervalu, Gort; Poetry Ireland; Noel Monahan; Knute Skinner; Scéal Eile Bookstore, Ennis, Co. Clare; The Clare Champion (Nicola Corless); Pat O’Callaghan; The Arts Council; Drew Logan (USA), O’Grady’s Bar and Restaurant, Gort; O’Sullivan’s Royal Hotel, Gort, the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort and The Gallery Café, Gort; those who took advertising and made possible our feature page in The Clare People; and Cathy Dillon at The Irish Times; and to the design genius and speed of James at I-Supply, Sea Road, Galway. Our waves too to the editorial committee of Indymedia Ireland. As always, there aren’t thanks enough for the Staff of Gort Public Library, Gort, Co. Galway, whose enthusiasm, dedication to the events and good-naturedness once again was a highlight of our time there. A particular thanks to the owners of the famous Forge, which sits in Gort still and which has become the emblem of this modest festival, for which we hope they will excuse us. My personal thanks to Brian Mooney and to violinist, the marvellous Yuki Nishioka, and to Sylvia Crawford and Niamh O’Shea.

Participants in this festival, as well as audience members, in some cases travelled considerable distances to be with us. We look forward sincerely to putting together the festival in 2011. Sincere thanks all round from The Western Writers’ Centre, Galway. Now get a modest flavour of the festival on these links!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLOlKdgBZF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDjp3t1cG1k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKjaeYnAPsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_QAwVxmoj8

Once again, our thanks! - - FRED JOHNSTON

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The Third Forge At Gort Literary Festival takes place March 26th and 27th at Gort, Co. Clare All events are free. The festival is organised by The Western Writers’ Centre (Ionad Scríbhneoirí Chaitlín Maude) Galway and is sponsored by The Arts Council,Poetry Ireland and the generous assistance of Knute Skinner, Edna Keil and Pat O’Callaghan, Drew Logan (USA), Noel Monahan, and our thanks to The Lady Gregory Hotel, O’Grady’s Bar and Restaurant and Sullivan’s Royal Hotel, Galway County Council and the Staff of Gort Library.

♥ Details from westernwriters@eircom.net and 087.2178138 ♥

• The preliminary line-up for this festival features: John Arden,novelist, with Patrick Early, poet – Friday March 26th – 8pm – Gort Library; Marty Mulligan (performance poetry) Friday, March 26th – Gallery Café - 10.30 pm; Pete Mullineaux – Workshop (poetry) 11am - Sullivan’s Hotel - Saturday, March 27th; Rab Fulton,storyteller - 12 noon - Gort Library; Rosemarie Rowley – 1pm – O’Grady’s Restaurant – Saturday March 27th. 1pm. Kate Thompson– Saturday March 27th - 3pm Gort Library; Pádraig Ó Moráin &Paul Dooley (harp) – Saturday March 27th -7pm- Gort Library;Clare Three-Leggéd Stool Writers’ Group & Yuki Nishioka (violin) – Saturday, March 27 - 4. 30pm – O’Grady’s Restaurant; Saturday, March 27th – Stephanie Allen-Early - Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort - 9pm. Details Fred and Niamh at westernwriters@eircom.net