Organisers of the annual Ballina Street Festival have moved to target a more expansive audience, following last evening’s (Tuesday) launch of this year’s event, at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin.Dressed in 18th century costume, representatives of the organising committee distributed leaflets outlining this year’s exciting programme of events on Grafton Street yesterday afternoon, highlighting the forthcoming outdoor pageant on the life of Michael Davitt to be staged at James Stephens’ Park.This year’s festival, which runs from July 6-16, was officially launched by Professor Seamus Caulfield, who was joined by Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, Mayo Dáil deputies Jerry Cowley TD and Beverley Flynn TD, chairman of Muintir Mhaigheo, Jim Murphy, and by the chairman of Ireland Westport Airport, Knock, Joe Kennedy.Representatives of chief sponsors Guinness, Heineken and Ballina Beverages were also in attendance.“It’s the fourth largest festival in Ireland at the moment and in that league it should have a higher profile and a higher platform,” Matt Farrell, (pictured) vice chairman of the Festival Committee, explained at the Dublin launch.
Organisers of the annual Ballina Street Festival have moved to target a more expansive audience.
