FROM A HUMBLE FIRST FESTIVAL!

 Gloria Clyne (Who used to be the director in RTE) was the core founder of the Arts Festival in Dunlavin. She began it with a simple art exhibition but through time it developed into a festival with music, crafts, singing and many more things being introduced each year. Gloria always held her festival during weekends (Friday-Sunday) and that tradition survives up to date.

   Margaret Lynott (the co-ordinater) and the local Dunlavin Committee gets the festival prepared for each summer. There are about fifteen members within the committee with each person taking on a certain show, whether it's a concert or a horse show.

   The Dunlavin Arts Festival is always held in the third week of June and each time a different celebrity opens it with a sensational speech. Lets fall back into time and glance at celebrities that were present at different times.

                     2009-> Sean O'Rourke,            2008->  Ingrid Miley,                 2007-> Sean Barkley,

                       an Irish journalist                     Industrial Relations in                An Irish actor who plays

                           and a broadcaster who                RTE.                                         Belle in Fair City.

                             works for the RTE.

                                             2010->  I'll let you see for yourself!

   Now, what does this festival offer? The answer to this question we got from many long time visitors of the festival...

   "Festival is so much fun!" says a local visitor, "We get to see so many events and shows. I'll talk about the Craft Fair because I never imagined to see so much talent from our locals. Craft Fair sales...to name a few: Gardening equipments, jewellery, many types of gemstones, a bit of bakery is always involved, childrens clothes and other useful fabrical items...".

   "Animal shows, those are my favourite! Especially the horses, they are my passion. I do horse riding lessons and watch how horses get looked after. I met the same age children as me at the festival who love horses just as much as I do and now we go to the same lessons and enjoy this sport! My dream is to become a jockey!" says a ten year old girl.

    Not only that, the fantastic fetsival offers a high standart art exhibition with new artists every year. One by the professional artist who are invited from all over Ireland (in the Dunlavin Market House), second by our amateurs (in the old schoolhouse Gallery) and the final third exhibition held in the Blue Door gallery. The three art buildings are offered for free. Each artist exhibits two paintings and altogether there are about two hundred works on display. The paintings are hung for the length of the festival and there are no age requirements. Also don't miss out on the Poetry and the Short story Competition. Check out the deadline in the events calender and all entries are to be sent to thelynotts@gmail.com.

    If you're still dissatisfied, see the up lifting parade organised by our Parents council and performed by our two local schools: St Nicholas Naoifa and Jonathan Swift School.

 Our local singing group, the Milltown singers, will perform on several occasions in the church and the Market house. 2009 master piece 'The Armed Man' was an admirable piece of work performed with six other choral groups.

Any money made from the festival go towards paying for the insurance, security and for next years festival.