Behind the Couch

Christopher Lee as Dracula Established in 1976, Westport Arts Festival is not only one of Ireland’s longest running festivals, but an on-going celebration of the arts in and around Ireland. With over 100 events spanning two weeks, this year’s festival – which runs from 1st – 14th October - represents one of the most ambitious to date. Amongst the array of events are screenings of Hitchcock’s masterful thriller North by Northwest , Hammer’s classic adaptation of Dracula . Aside from the film screenings, festival goers can look forward to a staggering amount of live music, comedy, theatre, visual art, literature readings and workshops. This year’s programme is as diverse, interesting and exciting as last year’s, with the work of both local and international artists promoted throughout. Organised entirely by volunteers, the annual Westport Arts Festival has been a fixture in the Irish arts calendar since 1976, making it one of the longest-running festivals in the country. It has...

Established in 1976, Westport Arts Festival is not only one of Ireland’s longest running festivals, but an on-going celebration of the arts in and around Ireland. With over 100 events spanning ten days, this year’s festival represents one of the most ambitious to date. Amongst the array of events is a drive-in movie series. That’s right; you can watch films from the comfort and safety of your own automobile! A 200-year-old courtyard at Westport House, built by the 2nd Marquess of Sligo no less, will be transformed into a state-of-the-art drive-in movie theatre for a series of screenings of classic movies as part of the Westport Arts Festival. This year there are ten feature films on show ensuring there will be something for everyone, from the epic western Once Upon a Time in the West to the equally epic science fiction spectacular 2001: A Space Odyssey. For fright fans there’s the classic terror of Jaws , the ultimate horror summer blockbuster, and the darkly disturbing Dutc...