A weekend mix of family fun and academic events at Swift Festival

A long weekend mix of family fun and attention-grabbing academic and media events starts in Trim tomorrow (Thursday) when the Swift Festival is formally launched. Even the launch itself is an event that is worth attending (and it is open to all) because two consummate communicators will be speaking at it: Professor Andrew Carpenter of UCD, who is a world-renowned authority and lecturer on Jonathan Swift, and Dr James Ward of the University of Ulster, Coleraine, who is the academic adviser to the festival. Both men spoke at last year"s launch and both vastly entertained the crowd in a free show with their wit, humour and stories. The launch, by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, will take place in Trim Castle Hotel, starting with a wine reception at 6.30pm, and it also includes a performance by the Trim Castle Singers, under musical director Jane Lynch, in the keep of the castle itself. Tickets to this castle event are limited and are available only on a first-come, first-served basis. A feature of the launch will be the presence of 'Paddy"s People". These are 10 local people who are simply available to chat in the hotel foyer about subjects of their own choice. 'All you have to do is approach them and say hello,' said festival director Barbara Nestor, 'and they will entertain you with observations and stories about their subject. It"s a simple idea that turned out to be brilliant last year and we know it will be equally popular this year.' Two days of academic lectures get under way on Friday at 11am in Knightsbrook Hotel. There has been one change in the programme within the past week: Dr James Ward himself takes over on Friday at 1pm from American lecturer Professor Hugh Ormsby-Lennon, who has had to cancel at short notice. There is a waiting list in operation for seats at the Friday evening event, the Roundtable Discussion led by Vincent Browne in Knightsbrook Hotel. Around that table will be well-known journalists and politicians from the national scene. The big events on Saturday are the open-air Tannoy Debate at 5pm, which is free of charge and moderated by broadcaster and rugby pundit George Hook in the French"s Lane car park beside the castle (or in the town hall in case of inclement weather), and the Satire Night (€25/ticket) with top national satirists The Emergency and Nob Nation"s Oliver Callan in the new GAA Centre. A family day starts at 2pm in the French"s Lane car park and will include an open-air market of artisan food producers, a pig-roasting, and attractions for children of all ages. Sunday"s events include a guided tour, starting at 2pm, by Richard Haworth of the sites associated with Jonathan Swift and Stella. Meeting point is the French"s Lane car park. A cabaret with a difference - it focuses on literary as well as musical matters - takes place on Sunday night in Trim Castle Hotel, starting at 7.30pm and featuring up to 70 participants from local groups. One of the highlights will be a very unusual duel of poetry and prose between the two writers groups based in the town, the Boyne Writers" Group and Meath Writers" Circle, who are submitting themselves to robust verdicts from a panel of three judges. Boos for the judges cannot be ruled out! Also in the cabaret will be the world premiere of a special adaptation of an extract from 'Gulliver"s Travels", written by Paddy Smith and presented by Trim Drama Group. Other items include an unusual talk by 'Jonathan Swift" himself (Pat Dunne) - unusual because it"s on the subject of his relationship with Stella; and a recital by the Dearbhail Finnegan Meath Harp Ensemble, Nobber. Top of the bill will be the Trim Castle Singers, under musical director Jane Lynch. Tickets for all events can be bought through the festival website www.trimswiftfestival.com