On Sunday the 23rd of August, Ballina’s Pearse Street and Walsh Street will see a dramatic transformation as part of the inaugural French Ballina festival.
A day of events including amazing food, exhibitions, crafts, children’s activities and much more, looks set to pay special tribute to the town’s Franco-Irish cultural and historical connections, including the 1798 rebellion.
Local musical talent on the day will include the sensational Moffatt School of Dance, the award winning Bofield Ceili Band and pan-European mistros No Crows.
Following a week of French film at the Ballina Arts Centre and the fantastic Night under the Stars concert on Saturday 22nd, visitors will get the chance to experience the atmosphere of a bustling French boulevard with themed cafés and stalls, magnificent props and characters and our very own 25ft Eiffel Tower.
Enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine with friends while savouring an Irish or French delicacy. Soak up the unique French ambiance and witness the most amazing craft displays and musical talent.
The Jackie Clarke Collection, the historical centre of the French Ballina Festival 2015, will host a self-guided, 1798 exhibition, displaying documents not on show in the Collection until now. Discover the part played by the French in “L’Année des Français”(The Year of the French).
In a family-friendly atmosphere, let the children enjoy a guided tour and treasure hunt through the Collection. Let them visit the Seomra exhibition space for an arts and crafts demo where they’ll create a copy of Theobald Wolfe Tone’s National Army Cockade – the very cockade that was worn at his trial in Dublin and which is on display in the Collection.
Events kick off at 2pm on Sunday. For more information visit mayonorth.ie or clarkecollection.ie.
