Exactly this time last week, the Irish festival in Fribourg was in full swing. I was in La Spirale Jazz Club enjoying an exhilarating performance by The Dixie Micks. At the end of the sold-out concert, I ended up on stage with fellow organisers Julie and Deirdre for a rendition of Whiskey in the Jar. I can’t remember the last time I was part of such a joyful gathering.
The day had started at the university building with a writing workshop, followed by two public lectures and an interview with John Boyne. Later, there were two more author events in Equilibre Theatre, and two films (A Date for Mad Mary and Redemption of a Rogue) before The Dixie Micks concert.
Before that, bright and early, I was standing at a bus stop with a sandwich board and a bunch of large cut-out arrows in bright orange card. Things got so busy on Sunday afternoon that I needed my bicycle to travel quickly between the The Celtic Cello concert set-up, the Welcome Desk at Equilibre Theatre and the Cinema Rex to announce the Irish-language film The Quiet Girl.
From the launch party on Friday afternoon to finally packing away the welcome desk on Sunday evening, I had seen friends, guests, volunteers and visitors happily take over the streets of Fribourg, secure in their welcome. In the 20 years I’ve lived here, it’s never felt more like home.
The Irish Festival Fribourg/Freiburg (IFF) has gradually taken over my life in the past year. Before the festival fades into a blur of indistinct moments in my memory, I want to get some highlights down in colour. I want to remember how amazing it was.
I hope you enjoy these photos, some taken by friends, some by our official photographers Rromir Imami and Patrice Bechtiger.
A week on, today, the festival team – temporarily scattered by illness and other work commitments – got together to review the weekend. The verdict: we couldn’t have asked for a better first edition of the festival, we expect to come back in 2025 (tbc) and we need time to tend to the neglected parts of our lives – in my case writing.
A thousand thanks to all who came to Fribourg for the festival, to the volunteers, our local partners, the guests of honour, the visitors and those who made the inaugural IFF possible through financial and practical support:
Loterie Romande, Tourism Ireland, l’Agglomération de Fribourg, l’Etat de Fribourg, Culture Ireland, Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Colm and Ella Kelleher, the Irish Embassy Berne, Max Geilinger Stiftung, IFI International, McGonigle Watches and the Swiss Centre of Irish Studies.
It was without a doubt a fabulous festival! I enjoyed every event I attended. Thank you, Clare, and thanks everyone else who made it possible. I’m only sorry I left the Dixie Micks too soon to hear you sing!!!
That might have been for the best. It was all very improvised (but fun). Thanks for coming, Kim. I’m so glad you made the most of it.
Clare, again well done and hearty congratulations on this exciting event. It really looks like ye had a great time and it was a huge success👏! Maybe I’ll be there some day, got a cousin living in Villars-sur-Glâne.
So pity I wasn’t there this time, I’m currently reading John Boyne’s book All The Broken Places. I enjoy his style of writing and have read many if his books.
Mark
That’s a great read. You have a lot of great writers coming and going around Limerick but you’re more than welcome to come to Fribourg the next time. You’ll get plenty of notice!
Clare! It was just so good and also comforting to be able to read this capture of the festival. I felt all the fun and opportunity of it through your words! Looking forward to catching up as time allows. All good wishes to you! Jxx
It was great fun and lots of our mutual friends were there. All the best to you and bon retour, Clare xx