Art exhibition, concert and lectures at Monasterevan Hopkins Society’s Festival

The Monasterevan Hopkins Society’s Festival this year runs from Friday, July 26 to Saturday 27 and will feature a diverse cultural approach with an art exhibition, concert and lectures.

The proceedings will commence with an art exhibition entitled Artists for Peace in the Monasterevin Community Centre. It has attracted exhibitors from all over the country over the past two years. It is curated by Sr Ann Scully.

Also featuring will be an exhibitions of The Art of Gerard Manley Hopkins, which will probably be the first occasion these works have been shown in public in Ireland. The art exhibitions will be open from 10am to 6pm on Friday.

Then on Friday afternoon the chairperson of the Monasterevin Hopkins Society, Irene Kyffin will perform the official opening. This will be followed by Irene’s lecture, The Harlem Renaissance.

Then at 8pm the Annual Hopkins Concert will take place in St. Pauls Secondary School, Moore Abbey Demesne, with guest artist, tenor Patrick Hyland.

Then on Saturday at 10am, the Artists for Peace exhibition continues in the Community Centre. Olivia O’Leary, journalist and broadcaster will deliver her lecture, How Poets Contribute to Society.

Then at 11.30am journalist, Eoghan Corry will deliver his lecture, Emily Lawless, Kildare Poet andauthor-1845-1913.

Following the lunch break at 1pm activities will resume at 3pm for the “Poetry Reading ” session in Monasterevan House where Hopkins came to stay as a guest of the Cassidy family. The reader will be Rita Kelly who is a poet and writer in both Irish and English.

Then at 3.30pm there will be the Open Call, My Favourite Hopkins Poem, which is an opportunity for members of the audience to recite their favourite Hopkins poem.

The fee for attendance to all events on both days is €40; attendance at all events on Saturday is €30; individual event entry-concert €20/lectures €10 each.

Concert tickets are available in Earley’s Fashion shop, the Parish Office and payable at the door for lectures and exhibitions.