Even the organisers of the upcoming Arts Festival in Fermoy in February couldn't have foreseen how the programme of events would grow and evolve to make what now promises to be a very substantial cultural event.

Mayor Olive Corcoran assembled a committee to organise the arts festival as a means of enlivening the town at what is usually a quiet time of year. They've been working to make it a cultural event that features free activities for the most part and that is inclusive of all age groups and sectors.

A children's art workshop will feature at Fermoy Community Youth Centre, the venue for many of the events on the weekend of February 1st and 2nd. They'll be given by Sarah Collins from Watergrasshill, who has an MA in art therapy. Anyone with children interested in attending should contact Olive Corcoran as soon as possible on 087-6354832 as places are limited.

The Grand Hotel is another venue being used for events over the weekend and other premises are being used too so as to give a good spread of activities to the town. Storytelling for children will feature at Hanley's Newsagents and at Fermoy Books on Patrick Street.

The Community Youth Centre will also feature poetry workshops for children over the weekend and a panel of local poets will judge a special poetry competition with prizes awarded for the best. A workshop in creative English is being given for 14-18 year olds by Liz Dolan, a teacher at Coláiste an Chraoibhín and lecturer at UCC and there'll be a science workshop too. Other retired teachers have also been enlisted to give workshops.

Fermoy's traditional home of poetry, the Elbow Lane Inn will host the well known poet and potter, Louis Mulcahy and other poets from Ó'Bhéal, Cork's weekly poetry event. Elbow Lane proprietor Billy Murphy, is also sponsoring the screening of the opera 'Hansel and Gretel' for adults and children at the Youth Centre.

With the co-operation of local shop owners, a walking trail of work by local artists is being established, giving the artists an opportunity to showcase their work in prominent shop windows and the public a chance to view it. It's also planned to have a walk-in gallery featuring local artists' work in the Grand Hotel. Well known local artist Maria Dowling, a member of the organising committee, is in charge of that aspect of the festival. She's anxious that artists in the region avail of this excellent opportunity to show their work. Artists should make contact by January 13th if they are interested in participating. Maria can be contacted on 086-3811435 for a submission form.

It's planned to have an information office that people can drop into any time over the weekend to get details on the wide range of events.

Local authors will have their books on display and it's hoped to have them on hand to discuss their work. The Book Shop in Pearse Square in Fermoy will serve as the ticket office for the Bosco show for children, taking place in the Youth Centre.

The Cork Garda choir, Bel Canto Choir and Castlelyons Gospel Choir and others will give recitals at St Patrick's Church and in Christ Church.

Denis O'Sullivan is bringing his famous Christy Ring exhibition to the festival and Fermoy Camera Club will hold an exhibition at the town hall. Well known local Seanachai John Arnold will also be on hand to entertain.

Kilworth resident Sheila-Rose Hazelwood meanwhile will be putting her own spin on the festival! She will give a demonstration on spinning wool. Sheila started spinning as a hobby about 20 years ago when she kept sheep. She saw it as a way to use up the wool they produced. She invested in equipment and took lessons and went on to become proficient in the skill. Sheila-Rose is also known in the area as a poet and at the festival she will be giving one of the poetry workshops for children.

Students of Cólaiste an Chraoibhín intend bringing their War Horse project, based on the book, the stage play and film of the same name, to the festival, including the full-size model horse they constructed. The Fermoy Field Club is also planning an event.

The organisers are delighted with the support and help they are getting from local groups such as the Fermoy Camera Club, the Active Retirement Group and local businesses. Fermoy Business Action Group has promised to feature a 'Rock Bottom Sale' in shops and businesses for the festival.

"We're delighted with the enthusiasm that's been shown for the event," Cllr Corcoran told The Avondhu this week. She said that the involvement of people like the Wagon Tavern's Tom Aherne who is allowing the use of his notice board to advertise events, Susan O'Riordan of the 2 Euro Shop who is providing art materials and balloons for children, O'Brien's Sandwich Bar owner Mark Hayes and FBAG as well as local groups like the Men's Shed who have offered their help, is very heartening and will give the festival a real community feel. She also paid tribute to her hard-working committee, Marianne Harris, Maria Dowling, Oliver Lillis, Ita Dempsey, Mary Cullinane, Kieran Moran, Pa O'Driscoll and Ian Fleming, saying they are doing 'superb work'.

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