Festival honours Pakenhams’ literary legacy
Organised by the North Westmeath History Society.
Preparations are under way in Castlepollard celebration of one of Westmeath’s most remarkable literary couples - Edward and Christine Pakenham.
A programme of free events (Friday-Sunday, October 18-20) has been drawn up by the North Westmeath History Society, with the assistance of the Pakenham family.
The aim of the weekend is to honour the impressive body of work both Edward and Christine produced during their lifetime, and hopefully reawaken interest in their novels, plays and poetry.
Unlike many of the old Anglo-Irish families, the fifth earl of Longford saw himself very much an Irishman, as did his younger brother Francis, and both he and Christine took lessons in the Gaelic language. Edward later joined the Gaelic League and, by 1928, was a regular guest speaker at many Feiseanna throughout Ireland.
In the early 1930s, Edward and Christine, both avid theatre-goers, became involved in the Gate Theatre Dublin. By then Christine had begun writing novels and Edward started writing and producing plays.
In 1936 Edward set up his own acting company - The Longford Players - which toured Ireland for more than 30 years.
Along with an exhibition at Castlepollard Library, which will run until Saturday, there will be a talk by Bill Ryan on Lord Edward Longford 1902-1961 in the Hotel Castle Varagh at 8pm Friday, October 18.
At 11am on Saturday morning in the Hotel Castle Varagh there will be a talk by Martin Morris on The Pakenhams and the Longford Connection; and on Saturday afternoon, at 3pm in St Michael’s Church of Ireland, a talk by Joe Murphy on Irish Bardic Poetry translated by Lord Longford. This will be accompanied by music from Clann Lir.
Saturday night at 8pm in Hotel Castle Varagh will be a talk by Ruth Illingworth on Lady Christine Longford.
Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm in Hotel Castle Varagh is a talk by Thomas Pakenham on ‘Memories of my uncle Edward and aunt Christine’; and on Sunday night at 8pm in the hotel will be a Giant Cultural Quiz - 100 years of Irish cultural history 1900-2000.