Getting ready to think in a wishful way
Creative Ireland funding is helping a project in the village of Fore get off the ground. The fairies that live there are getting everything ready for summer and they need help to get their Bee Hotel built and planted, their renewable energy systems developed and their tiny hidden village built.
“This is a wonderful walking workshop for children that will lead them along our 3.5km off-road looped walk, where they will work with our Fairy Guardians to build, explore, learn and create,” explained Una D’Arcy, one of the committee behind the new Festival in Fore, called ‘The Weekend of Wishful Thinking’.
“We have nature, science and art zones set up along the trail and as our groups explore the trail they will discover these zones and get to participate in some really magical tasks.
“Our Weekend of Wishful Thinking is all about the emotional history of a place like Fore. The immense cultural heritage of creativity that exists in place like this valley.
“So all our events are about being creative, being positive and happy and the practices people use to achieve a positive approach in life.
“The children’s event will be the Guardian Quest, which will suit children aged seven to 70. It is a tiny adventure with ‘the little people’ that is part art, part science, part nature, part storytelling and all magic.
“We also have ukulele classes with Cliodhna and Blathnaid Daly, art workshops, storytelling and writing workshops, guided tours and workshops such as learning how to make a vision board and the return of mindfulness practitioners Brigid Corrigan and Ursula Meehan with a workshop called ‘The Mindful Way’, on June 24.”
Una said the organisers are trying a new workshop with some well known political figures called ‘Think Global, Act Local’, adding that the weekend will look at Westmeath projects where people are taking action in their communities to protect habitats, bring about change and create development.
“All the information is available on the Facebook page and many of the events are free (the Guardian Quest is €6 a child/child at heart, family pass €20; the Mindful Way is €10 – booking advised – and the Ukulele Workshop €5 each – instruments provided.
“The art on our posters is created by Fore native John Corrigan and included in our panel of speakers are Fore natives Senator Paul Gavan, Trademark’s Stiofán Ó Nualláin as well as Senator Aidan Davitt and the cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Frank McDermott,” said Una.
“Joining them will be Lorraine Murphy, who will share where she found strength and rooted herself in positive action when she embarked on the campaign to secure two cochlear implants for her daughter. Fr Patrick Donnelly, PP, will also be joining this group as will tourism expert Bartle D’Arcy.
“These workshops will be about how and where and why we as individuals can effect change locally, nationally and globally and I think they will be the best craic you have ever had while engaging in a conversation about political processes.”
Weekend of Wishful Thinking, Fore, Saturday June 24 and Sunday 25, noon to 5pm both days.