The "tooth fairy" time is past. So said Michael Joyce, Galway Corporation's senior executive engineer, at the opening of an exhibition in the city last week entitled "Waste and the Environment".
The senior official was referring to those days when people could leave their waste at the bottom of a garden or at a front gate and find that it had "magically disappeared". Galway has a major disposal problem, he reminded those present, and several difficult decisions would have to be made over the next few months. Also, more awareness by residents of the need to reduce rubbish production would be required.
Opened by the former Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Michael D. Higgins, the exhibition of art, poetry and music on this theme has been staged by two fine arts graduates, Oisin Browne and Tracey Cassidy, who perform under the name Palmyra.
Drawings, ceramics and readings are aimed at promoting a cleaner environment for the western city. The pair were commissioned by a local business, the City Bin company, to host the show in the Logan Gallery, 4a Anthony's Place, Wood Quay, running for the next 10 days.
The next big arts event in the west is the Lady Gregory weekend. First hosted three years ago at Coole Park, south-east of Galway city, the Lady Gregory gathering includes a programme of lectures and plays from September 25th to 27th. Among this year's speakers will be Prof James Pethica, of Williams College, Massachusetts, Prof Declan Kiberd, of University College, Dublin, Pro Lucy McDiarmid, of Villanova, Philadelphia, and Prof Edna Longley, of Queen's University, Belfast.
There will be a guided walking tour of Gort with local historian Eileen Kilroy of An Taisce, an exhibition of documents and photographs at Gort County Library, music, a coach tour and much more. Details from Sheila O'Donnellan at (091) 521836.
Further north, Westport Arts Festival runs from September 18th to 27th, incorporating a packed programme of theatre, music, lectures and comedy. Among the performers will be the Irish Chamber Orchestra in Holy Trinity Church; the new Connacht Ensemble in Clew Bay Hotel; Mayo County Choir and Cantorai Umhaill; Emer Mayock; De Danann; and Don Baker, rated as the world's greatest harmonica player, in Westport Woods Hotel.
Cinderella will be performed by the Opera Theatre Company, The House of Bernarda Alba by Lorca will be staged by the Bar Theatre Company, and St Patrick's Drama Group, Westport, is putting on Beckett's Play. A selection of Irish short films, one of which was shot by local filmmaker Alan Friel, will also be screened during a cabaret night on September 25th in the Hotel Westport.
The Mayo Arts Squad, a FAS-funded community employment scheme, sponsored by Mayo County Council, continues its touring theatrical street parade to mark "Spiorad '98", the year of the French.
Entitled Fite Fuaite and involving community arts groups from Erris to Castlebar to Cong and Kiltimagh, the parade is due to hit Collooney, Co Sligo, at 7 p.m. on September 12th, and will make its last appearance in Castlebar on October 25th.
Also on September 12th, Marguerite Gannon sets out on her bicycle from Castlebar, bound for London, with breaks in Athlone and Dublin en route. Cycling through Wales, she aims to make London by September 19th to raise awareness and money for AIDS Help West in Galway and Mildmay AIDS Hospice in London.
Contrary to popular belief, the number of HIV-positive people in Ireland is still rising, with 119 testing positive in 1997 compared to only 85 in 1994. Up to the end of December last year, 311 people had died in the Republic of an AIDS-related illness. Sponsorship/donation details for Marguerite Gannon's cycle can be obtained from AIDS Help West at 091-566266.