A five-day international festival to celebrate the work of writer Samuel Beckett opened yesterday in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, where the Nobel Prize winner went to school.
The programme of the inaugural Happy Days festival includes David Soul of Starsky and Hutch fame reading some of Beckett’s works. The actor, who played Det Ken Hutchinson in the popular 1970s TV show, is a long-time admirer of Beckett.
The festival closes next Monday when renowned opera singer Ruby Philogene performs. She is married to festival founder and artistic director Seán Doran.
“This is the world’s first annual festival celebrating Beckett,” Mr Doran said.
“In the long term the aim is to turn Enniskillen into a major cultural destination.
“Like Salzburg is to Mozart and Stratford is to Shakespeare, Enniskillen can be to Beckett in five years’ time.”
The director, who lives in Australia but has based himself in Enniskillen for the past five months to plan the festival, said the events would reflect the many facets of Beckett’s artistic achievements.
Beckett was a keen sportsman and the festival will acknowledge this with a series of lighthearted athletic endeavours.
There will be a rowing race on Lough Erne, as well as a cycling event and a rugby match.
Eleven artists will play 11 critics in a cricket match.