Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival 2013
Newbridge College
July 19 - 26 2013

The
Hopkins Festival is now 26 years in existence and has been described by
The Editor, The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature as ' the best literary Festival in Ireland'.
Our next gathering will be in Newbridge College, July 19 to 26
This Festival promises to be outstanding.
The Hopkins Literary Festival has grown, since 1987, around
the poetry of Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins. Towards th end of
his life, he wrote that he found in Kildare, 'one of the struts and props of my existence.'
The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival offers a rich, varied programme.
Building on the wide range of Hopkins's interests in the Arts: in
Music, Drawing, and even Conservation, the Festival offers not just
Poetry but also, Art Exhibitions; Classical Music Concerts, Traditional Irish Music Concerts; Workshops, Fieldtrips and above all: an atmosphere of friendships around shared interests.
An International Buzz in a Small Town
Visitors
come, each year, from between 25 and 30 countries - and, of course,
from Ireland. Participants are from a wide range of backgrounds. Former
paticipants return to give a special flavour to procedings. People come
for great conversations; stimulating lectures; great Poetry Readings;
exciting Art Exhibitions; various Concerts - or, just quite simply, for
good company and friendship in congenial surroundings.
Many of our Visitors know how Gerard Manley Hopkins found solace in
Kildare with its Victorian charm and delightful wooded, watery walks.
The
Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival was founded in Kildare, in
1987. Each year since then, Hopkins, his life and poetry, have been
celebrated.
We have built up an Archive of Hopkins Scholarship, a collection of lectures delivered during the Hopkins Festival since 1987.
Hopkins Festival in Newbridge College
2013 marks the 26th Gerard Manley Hopkins Literary Festival.
The Hopkins Festival attracts participants from many
countries. The Music Programme includes both traditional Irish and
classical: in 2010, Ivo Dropulich, the sensation from Croatia and
Ireland's own, Frankie Gavin. Poetry Readings include important writers
from various countries including
Yiorgos Chouliaras (Greece); Richard
Berengarten (UK); Alan Riach (Scotland); Tammy Morgan (USA); Desmond
Egan . The Art Exhibition featuring a number of leading Artists, both
Irish and International, will include work by Edward Navone (USA);
Brian Bourke; Eleanor Swan and others. Workshops include the popular
Words and Music Session led by musician, Conor Mahony, with others on
Translation, Creative Writing etc. A very distinguished list of
Lecturers will be headed by Francis Fennell (USA) Brian Arkins
(Ireland); Aleksandra Kedzierska (Poland) and Alla Savchenko
(Russia).
The Festival Banquet is a highlight and takes place in the stunning
Pugin Hall, NUI Maynooth, presided over by President John Hughes.
The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival Youth Programme
This
innovative Cultural Tourism programme is offered parallel to the Gerard
Manley Hopkins Festival. It draws its inspiration from Hopkins's
poetry, his wide interests and his close connections with Ireland. The
excitement of the Hopkins Festival has attracted many young people to
join us. The Committee felt the need to organise a special parallel
For information on Hopkins Youth Programme contact Derek
Browse, search The Hopkins Archive here
Download Hopkins International Festival Programme 2012 here
We
will soon have the full 2013 Gerard Manley Hopkins International
Festival available here for download. You will then be able to avail of
our Secure Payment System to Register for the Festival and to book
tickets for Concert etc.