By Paul Murphy.
Photo: The John Boyle O’Reilly Festival Committee. Missing from the picture is Ciaran Warfield.
A very strong and enthusiastic committee made up largely of local people in the general Slane and Dowth area is gearing up for what promises to be a very attractive programme of events for the four-day John Boyle O’Reilly Festival next month.
The mixture of cultural and music events will run from Thursday 13 th to Sunday 16 th August in a number of locations including Dolly’s Bar at Belfeddock, Slane and Netterville House, Dowth. This year marks the 150sth anniversary of the daring rescue of six Irish Fenian prisoners from Freemantle Prison in Western Australia. They escaped in the Catalpa ship. Irish poet, patriot and journalist John Boyle O’Reilly who had close links to the Boyne Valley was one of the escapees and when he landed in the United States became a prominent spokesman for the Irish diaspora community through his editorship of the Boston newspaper The Pilot. He was born in Dowth and became involved in journalism before joining the British army. He left the army after becoming disillusioned over British rule in Ireland.
The festival will be launched on Thursday 13 th August by the President of the GAA Jarlath Burns who will lay a wreath at the John Boyle O’Reilly memorial at Dowth. An official jersey to mark the anniversary will also be launched on that evening.
From 8-9pm on the same evening harpist Siobhan Warfied will play some tunes at the nearby Netterville House and from 9-9.30 there will be a re-enactment of John Devoy reading the letter he received “The Voice from the Tomb” that inspired the Catalpa rescue plan.
From 10-12pm there will be music at Dolly’s Bar with an open mic night for singers and songwriters.
FRIDAY 14 TH August 12-5pm – Exiled Voices Art Exhibition at Netterville House (More about this later). 7-8.30pm at Netterville House Marcus Howard will give a talk on The Catalpa Rescue. 8-10pm music at Dolly’s Marquee by Coscan (tickets €10 on Eventbrite and at Dolly’s Bar). 10.30pm-12.30pm Music at Dolly’s by Poitin.
SATURDAY 15 th August AT NETTERVILLE – 12pm-5pm Exiled Voices Exhibition. 12-1.30pm well known historian Brendan Matthews will give a talk on local Fenian history – and more. 2-3pm The Fenian Empire book launch and talk. 1.30-3pm explore the church and Netterville House and Garden. 12- 4pm at Dollys Bar Farmers Markey and craft fair with 10-12 stalls featuring local food and crafts. 5- 6pm Whiskey tasting Experience with Derek King featuring five whiskeys (Tickets €40). 7.30-9pm
Support Band The Wednesday Gang. 10pm-12pm Music at The Marquee – The Highstool Prophets (tickets Eventbrite or at Dolly’s Bar).
SUNDAY 16 TH AUGUST SLANE GAA CLUB – 11am Match between Slane GFC and St Mary’s Donore ladies football match for the John Boyle O’Reilly Cup. 12.15pm Cup Presentation. 12.30pm Parade to Dolly’s Bar accompanied by St Brigid’s Pipe Band and local clubs. 12-4pm at Dolly’s Bar, Farmers Market. 1-5pm Family Fun Day with face painting, balloons, and garden games. 5-7pm at Dolly’s Music with Catalpa. 7.30pm Closing of festival.
