Swift Satire Festival, Trim. 2014

The Swift Satire Festival celebrates the life, works and legacy of Jonathan Swift. The seventh Swift Satire Festival will take place in Trim, Co Meath, this weekend, July 12-13, 2014.

Click here for the full programme of events

What's On in Brief.

SATURDAY:
Poetry in Motion. Starts: 10:30. 
Stand on a box on the streets of Trim and read poetry aloud. Books supplied.

The Feat of Clay. Start: 11:30
Stand in the footsteps of Swift during a fun outdoor reading of his wicked satire on religion, A Tale Of A Tub. You’ll have one foot on the sod of Co Meath, one foot on the clay of Straid Dam lake, Co Antrim, where Jonathan Swift famously killed time on a Sunday morning while waiting for his congregation to turn up for Service during the period he was ministering at the parishes of Kilroot, Templecorran and Ballynure, Co Antrim. Participation is free.

Registration takes place from 11.30am! Please email Paddy Smith at paddysmithtrim@gmail.com or text/ring 086 1577526 to book your place.Venue: Trim Castle grounds (opposite Garda Station)

Here’s a video about the task of bringing Co Antrim soil to Co Meath for the big occasion!

Official Launch. Start: 12:00. 
The official launch of the 7th Swift Satire Festival in Trim. All welcome – come along for a few brief speeches on the grounds of the spectacular Trim Castle grounds (opposite Garda Station)

Guided Tour of Swift's Trim: Start: 13:30. 
Historian Richard Haworth brings you on a walking tour of the town of Trim including visits to St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral and Talbot’s Castle/St Mary’s Abbey, the house once owned by Stella and, later, by Jonathan Swift. €5 per person. Limited to a maximum of 50. Starts Trim Castle grounds (opposite Garda Station)

Poetry in the Parlour - Open Mic. Start: 16:00 
featuring poet Kevin Higgins from Galway. Tickets: €5. Venue: The Old Rectory on Loman Street

The Battle of the Books: Start: 20:00. 
Judgement night in this €500 international poetry and prose writing competition. The 10 shortlisted writers (or their stand-ins) will read their entries, which judge Niamh Boyce will then comment upon before announcing her winner at the end of the night.

The audience will vote for their own winner, who will receive the €100 Audience Prize, and helpful advice (and some fun) will be delivered by two Mentors, Peter Higgins and Michael Farry. (How do I get involved in this sort of thing!) Tickets: €5. Venue: Trim Castle Hotel.

View the Battle of the Books shortlist here.

SUNDAY

A Bite of Satire: Start: 12:30. 
A two-course lunch featuring a one-man show on the life and literary legacy of Flann O’Brien/Myles na Gopaleen, Flann’s Yer Only Man, written and performed by Val O’Donnell.

Plus the World Premiere of a 10-minute play, Ah Feckett, written and performed by two graduates of the Gaiety School of Acting, Brian Burns and Owen Martin.

Then, over your coffee at the end of lunch (at about 3pm, we reckon), listen to a prominent national figure delivering a 40-minute talk, The Swift Lecture. This year’s speaker is John Lonergan, the former Governor of Mountjoy Prison who will talkon Would Jonathan Swift be proud of Modern Ireland?

€25 per person. (Includes lunch, the two stage performances and The Annual Swift Lecture). Venue: Trim Castle Hotel