Minister Arlene Foster sharing a joke with the other speakers who along with her addressed the gathering at the launch of the Beckett Festival week-end. They are Alex Baird Chairman of Fermanagh District Council Robin Morton Principal of Portora and Bob Collins Chairman of the Arts Council
‘AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS’ is how founder and director of the Happy Days international Samuel Beckett festival summed up the event.
Sean Doran, who founded the festival last year, took it back for its second year this year.
And this year the festival’s ambitions surpassed that of the previous.
“It was overwhelmingly successful, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. There were many sold-out shows,” explained Sean.
“It was greatly embraced by the local community as well as visitors from outside.”
He also noted that, in the same weekend that the Ulster Rally took place, there wasn’t a ‘bed to be had’ in Fermanagh.
“People came from Australia, Germany, Italy, Florida, America. This year, certainly Dublin came up strongly. I think overall the programme was much broader and much more ambitious and it all came off.
He added: ““It was very hard work. I think a major feature were the local volunteers. We had 140 volunteers locally – and credit must go to them.”
Sean also commented that he will be pushing to keep the Beckett here, though will be working to ensure a more stable financial future for the festival.
