“The huge image of Che Guevara’s face stares out from the section of the beach walls painted white, at the west end of the beach. I don’t mind it. But if there is only one mural allowed on Kilkee beach, I’d prefer it was that of Charlotte Brontë.”
It was this comment at the end of an article by Rosita Boland in the Irish Times, that was being discussed at a meeting of the Kilkee Civic Trust that sparked the comment:
“There really should be a festival” and the seed of an idea was sewn.
Charlotte Brontë spent the greater part of her Honeymoon in Kilkee in 1854, having married an Irish man called Arthur Bell Nichols. They stayed in the West End Hotel with Mrs Shannon the local postmistress.
Wanting to create a celebration of the world-famous authors Honeymoon in Kilkee the committee have found some of the best speakers and invited them to share their expertise with us at the inaugural festival to celebrate Charlotte Brontë’s Kilkee Honeymoon.
Festival Details:
Friday, 15th September & Saturday, 16th September.
Cultúrlann Sweeney, O’Connell Street, Kilkee V15 P960
Dr Ivana Bacik T.D. who has kindly agreed to formally open the festival.
Three specialist speakers who will make presentations during the festival, Dr Michael O’Dowd, Mr. James Scully & Ms. Joanne Wilcock.
The talks will be complemented by a heritage walk titled: Walking in the footsteps of
Charlotte & Arthur, there will also be a musical presentation by the Killaloe based choir, The Gúnas.
All events are free of charge, so you are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Now the Charlotte Brontë festival has been established, Kilkee have exciting plans to make sure this seed of a thought grows into an annual event for many years to come.
You can read more in The Clare Champion article by Andrew Hamilton ( 15.09.23 )
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