Hopkins Literary Festival kicks off in Newbridge

This year’s Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer Festival in Newbridge’s annual Art Exhibition features Desmond Morris, better known for presenting Zootime on BBC TV and even more so for the amazing success of his book ‘The Naked Ape’ (20 million copies sold worldwide).

Morris is also a surrealist painter and is often called the last surrealist since he exhibited with Joan Miro in 1950. Morris has been recognised as an artist of real quality, probably the foremost living exponent of Surrealism in Britain and beyond.
The exhibition is open to the public and continues for the duration of the festival. 96-year-old Desmond Morris was also due to attend the official opening last night.  

The Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival based at Newbridge College Theatre will run until July 25.

A classical concert will be performed tonight, Saturday, July 20 at 8 pm by distinguished Swedish pianist Hans Pålsson who will include Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven.

A highly successful Youth Programme runs parallel to the main programme under the direction of Derek Egan. This year more than 30 pre-Leaving Certificate honours students will attend.

Since 1987, Irish poet Desmond Egan and a team of dedicated professionals have been hosting The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival, now in its 36th year and based in Newbridge College Theatre, celebrating the writings of Gerard Manley Hopkins, his links with Ireland and his interests: Poetry; Art; Music, Philosophy and Conservation. The Society’s aim is to provide artistic and cultural fulfilment.

This year international participants will travel from USA; Canada, Japan; South Korea, Germany; France; Belgium; Wales, Poland; Sweden, Netherlands; Finland; Cyprus, U.K. and Ireland for the event.

The festival’s full programme of events are open to the public and further details are available on the website www.gerardmanleyhopkins.org