Féile Soilsí Thoraí - Tory Festival of Lights
Féile Soilsí Thoraí
Earagail Arts
<Téacs Gaeilge>
Tory Festival of Lights
Earagail Arts Island Festival a Huge Success
God was good to the Tory Islanders and its visitors last weekend by providing them with much needed sunshine just when it was needed. Repeating last year’s festival the weekend kicked off with a showcase and celebration of the work completed by young Islanders throughout the year. And so, the ‘Soilsí Thoraí’ festival commenced with Radio na Gaeltachta’s Ronan Mac Aodh Bhuí formally opening the new Island animation suite ‘Ceardlann na Rogairí’ (The Rogues Workshop) and a screening of their film ‘Colmcille’ produced by Sean Donal Rogers, Garry Rogers and John Martin Rogers and others. Ronan also launched the new Island website and archive coordinated by Donna McClafferty and Aishling Meenan. John Spillane then took to the stage and played a roaring gig into the wee small hours.
A very successful ‘Family Day’ then followed on the Saturday with entertainment provided by the fabulous ‘Fanzini Brothers’, Funky Monkey Business Inflatables, face painting, the Inis Bó Finne and Tory Island football match and much more. The Scottish rock band ‘Face the West’ from the Isle of Lewis had already played in last years festival and could wait to return this year, in fact they played for 5 hours to a very delighted crowd in the Club Teach whilst Connemara Sean-nós dancer Ronan Reagan entertained and enticed on to the dance floor an enthusiastic crowd in Ostán Thoraí.
The sun shone gloriously for the ‘Tug-o-War’ matches and the first ‘Currach Race’ on Tory Island in forty years when the entire Island descended upon the pier. Finally, special guest Margaret Stewart from Scotland and her band played the last gig of the weekend at the Club Teach with ‘Sean-nós’ performances by a host of Islanders. To top it all a huge crowd joined in a roaring ‘Ceíli Mór. The newly formed Island festival team should be very happy with the results of their efforts.