FILM Westport Arts Festival’s drive-in returns

An 19th-century farmyard courtyard is transformed into a state-of-the-art drive-in movie theatre for Westport Arts Festival.?Pic: Conor McKeown

Thrills, chills, romance and comedy in Westport’s 19th- century drive-in movie theatre


A 200-year-old courtyard at Westport House built by the second Marquess of Sligo will be transformed into a state-of-the-art drive-in movie theatre for a series of screenings of classic movies as part of the Westport Arts Festival.
Cyclists, drivers, skateboarders and pedestrians will enjoy thrillers, romances, comedies and family fun – and the surroundings of the 19th-century pony and mule shelters, pheasantries, laundries, sawmills and kilns can only add to the atmosphere.
This year there are ten feature films on show, so there’s definitely something for everyone, from the epic western ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ to the equally epic science-fiction spectacular ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’.
For the romantics, there’s the timeless ‘Casablanca’ and perennial favourite ‘Dirty Dancing’. If it’s laughs you’re after, the turned-up-to-eleven mockumentary ‘This is Spinal Tap’ and the dark yet life-affirming ‘Harold and Maude’ will fit the bill. Fright fans will revel in the classic terror of ‘Jaws’ and the disturbing Dutch psychological thriller ‘Spoorloos’, a film that can be truly described as horror. (You have been warned!)
For the young and young at heart, there’s classic Disney animation ‘The Jungle Book’, which will be preceded by ‘Murder on Strange Street’, a charming short film shot in the grounds nearby that was written, shot and edited by the stars – children from the town.
‘Little Matador’ is the opening movie, introducing Westport audiences to local filmmaker Sandra Jordan’s fascinating documentary about bullfighters in Mexico. These are no ordinary bullfighters, these are children, as young as eight, that are trained to kill bulls a hundred times their weight. ‘Little Matador’ is an intense portrayal of children’s courage that is at once harrowing, beautiful and utterly compelling.
The Drive-In Movie series runs from Friday, September 23 to Sunday, October 2. All screenings commence at 7.30pm in the Courtyard behind Gracie’s bar at Westport House. Admission is free, but ticketed. Parking spaces costing €20 are optional and may also be reserved online. The film soundtrack will be broadcast on FM radio.

For more information and to buy tickets visit westportartsfestival.com.