Trim Swift Festival Build Up

The build up continues towards the 2010 Trim Swift Festival. The Stand Up Row devised by Committee member Paddy Smith is well under way in the town. This is an inter-pub competition and the final will take place the evening of the official opening of the Festival, Thursday 1 July. Great fun last night at the second leg of a first round contest. Each team member pulls a topic from a hat and after two minutes preparation has to speak for one minute for the motion then one minute against it.

The contest is inspired by the fact that it is exactly 300 years ago this year that Jonathan Swift caused consternation in English politics by switching his allegiance from the Whigs to the Tories.

Topics last night included I Hate Potholes, I Love Sunday Mornings, Old Men in Pony Tails are Pathetic, I Hate the Judges. A variety of styles, loud, quiet, serious, flippant, great audience reaction, opinionated judges - a good night.

Thursday 1 July will also see the presentation of prizes in the Swift Satire Competition which our group is organising in conjunction with the Festival. Satiric prose or poetry on the topic 2000-2010: The Best Of Times, The Worst Of Times. Entries have been coming in steadily, from near and far, including USA, Canada, Costa Rica. Full details on the website. closing date for entries 15 June. You can enter online.