The heart of ireland festival in a nutshell
The word is out, the festival is launched, and folk are curious to know what it’s all about. So here it is, The Heart of Ireland Festival, explained in a nutshell.
There are two elements to the festival:
a) The International Heart of Ireland Competition to select ‘The Heart of Gold’
b) The Arts Festival... packed with entertainment for all the family.
The Heart of Ireland competition is the search for ‘The Heart of Gold.’ This competition is open to men and women over 50 years of age, of Irish descent at home and abroad, and it’s based on good deeds and good character. The Heart of Gold is not a saint but a well-rounded individual who possesses a strong character, a love for life, a generosity of spirit and a gift for storytelling.
We are not looking for Gandhis or Mother Teresas; just good honest folk who love to laugh and tell a good yarn. The Heart of Gold competition is all about celebrating the real Ireland, the Ireland we nearly lost during the Celtic Tiger. It’s the Ireland where people and community spirit matter.
So, how does this competition work, you ask? Soon we will have a framework (like a popular festival in Tralee) with centres all over Ireland and internationally. At those, all nominees will receive green hearts; centre winners will be awarded white hearts; and then in Mullingar during the Heart of Ireland Festival next July, from all the white hearts, we will select The Heart of Gold.
The award will be decided after Late Late Show style interviews.
The search for the Heart of Gold is our novel idea to attract international tourists and welcome them to Mullingar. Once they arrive, we have to put on a show they will never forget, ensuring the festival becomes a successful annual event for Mullingar and the midlands.
This is where the arts festival comes in. It will offer countless activities to entertain festival-goers of all generations: open-air cinema, music gigs, pop-up street theatre, storytelling sessions, an inter-generational art and writing exhibition, tug-o-war, fireworks, a parade, and a few surprises.
Only one shot
The Gathering ploughed the soil, now it’s our chance to reap the rewards. How many of our diaspora heard of The Gathering and have started saving for their first trip to Ireland? For most folk it may take years to save for such a special holiday and the chance to connect with their Irish roots – this is our opportunity to welcome them to our town and the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Mullingar and the midlands are off the tourist trail for most visitors and with Fáilte Ireland now only funding the 10 top attractions in the country, we, the people of Mullingar and Westmeath, have to create our own tourism initiatives.
Let’s put Mullingar on the map!
The first Heart of Ireland festival will take place over the weekend of July 11-12, 2015 in Mullingar, in the heart of Ireland. But we can’t rest on our laurels. We have one shot at this to get it right. If 2015 is not a success, nobody will return in 2016. The Heart of Ireland festival is for the people of Mullingar. Only together, can we make this a success.
So please, get in touch if you can help.
• heartofireland.ie; facebook; and twitter (@hi_ireland); info@heartofireland.ie.