2017 has been a great year for Wainfest and this year’s festival hasn’t even taken place yet!
Having just been nominated for an Excellence in Local Government Award under the Best Library Service category and having been described by the former Taoiseach Enda Kenny as the event that best illustrates the values and aspirations underpinning the new Creative Ireland programme, this year’s Wainfest is on course to be the best yet.
“This year we are celebrating 21 years of Wainfest and we are delighted that it coincides with the nomination for the prestigious Excellence in Local Government Award 2017 under the Best Library Service category,” says Sinead McLaughlin from the Donegal County Library Service.
“Our team in the Council’s Library Service has been working hard this year to bring a number of new dimensions to the festival including extending our family programme.
“We have developed new partnerships with other organisations and businesses and this means that for the first time we will be holding an event for every day of the festival. I think our enthusiasm for the festival is catching and it’s great to see so many new bodies and businesses come onboard this year.”
Immersed in the magic. Diary of a wimpy kid fans enjoying Wainfest 2015
“For example, you can experience the magic in the woodlands with the Glenveagh Education Team, or enjoy a family cooking session with an award winning chef or even meet and greet ‘Critters’ with the help of the Foyle Loughs Agency and the Aqua Explorers who have teamed up with Éanna Ní Lamhna for this formidable task!”
As well as an extensive family programme Wainfest continues to offer an exciting schools programme with authors such as Dan Freedman (Football fanatic author of the Jamie Johnson series), Dave Rudden (Award winning Irish author of Knights of the Borrowed Dark), Jim Smith (Author of Barry Loser), and Máire Zepf (Author of childrens Irish language books) already signed up.
Dragon science – making magic happen with Scientific Sue during Wainfest 16
Wainfest 2017 which takes place from 7 to 15 October will be officially launched on Friday 22 September in Donegal Castle by Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gerry McMonagle with special guest Shane Hegarty, author of the Darkmouth series and journalist with the Irish Times.
Wainfest is an initiative of Donegal County Council’s Library Service and is supported by E&I Engineering, Pramerica, Ealaín na Gaeltachta Teoranta, The Heritage Council, The Arts Council, Inishowen Development Partnership, Waters & Communities, Inishowen Family Action Network, Foyle Loughs Agency, OPW and the Donegal Chamber Music Festival.
For more on what’s on this year visit www.wainfest.ie or follow Facebook @DonegalCountyLibrary or Twitter @DonegalLibrary, #wainfest.
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