Goldsmith Committee members and friends (from left) Seamus McCormack (president), Brona Conlon, Arthur Conlon (chairman), Tony Tiernan, Tom Seery, Joe Farrell, Willie Flanagan (secretary) at Trinity College Dublin (alma mater of Oliver Goldsmith) to mark the 40th anniversary of The Goldsmith Festival. Photo: Claire McCormack

Official opening of Oliver Goldsmith Literary Festival this Friday

Published: Wed 29 May 2024, 4:01 PM

Last updated: Wed 29 May 2024, 4:43 PM

The Oliver Goldsmith Literary Festival will be officially opened by Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at The Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, on Friday (May 31) at 7.30pm.

Irish Times journalist and author Justine McCarthy, and Goldsmith scholar Prof Michael Griffin from the University of Limerick, will also speak on opening night to set the scene for the weekend-long event.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Nothing he did not adorn’ – The Oliver Goldsmith Festival at 40, and the committee have lined up a programme that includes receptions, discussions, a bus tour of ‘Goldsmith Country’ covering selected sites across south Westmeath and Longford, a live theatrical performance, a visit to Goldsmith’s birthplace, and a poetry competition.

Leading literary academics Prof Aileen Douglas and Prof Ian Campbell from Trinity College Dublin and Dr James Ward of Ulster University will explore Goldsmith’s scholarship and impact at a session in the Goldsmith Room at Ballymahon Library on Saturday at 12 noon.

Another highlight is expected to be the popular ‘Goldsmith Live’ session in Skelly’s Courtyard, Ballymahon, from 2.30pm on Saturday, which will include the much-anticipated performance of ‘The Misadventures of Oliver Goldsmith’, written and performed by Michael J Ford, and colleagues.

The festival winds up at 3.30pm on Sunday June 2 at Goldsmith’s birthplace in Pallas with poetry readings from the winning entrants of the Goldsmith Poetry competitions adjudicated by Eugene O’Connell and Mary Melvin Geoghegan.

Goldsmith Festival chairman Arthur Conlon said: “Our festival has stood the test of time, expanding from under an academic cloak to make Goldsmith’s writings accessible and relevant to today’s diverse and modern audiences.

“This year we are in a sense going back to basics and emphasising the breadth, vision, and continued influence of Goldsmith’s writings. Maintaining an event of this type for 40 years is not easy and takes a dedicated committee and the support of local agencies and sponsors. We are grateful to Longford and Westmeath County Councils, Longford Arts Office, and our poetry sponsors, Nally Bros, Ballymahon.”

• olivergoldsmithfestival.com