First Annual Three Rivers Storytelling FestivalJune 4 – June 19th, 2008

Three Rivers Storytelling Festival is a month long celebration of the great traditional art of storytelling. Based in the Midlands, this annual festival features storytellers from Ireland and America. The goal of the festival is to highlight one of Ireland’s greatest treasures – its stories – while strengthening bonds among the communities in the Midlands.

Liz Weir:
June 11th: Loughrea Library, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Portumna Library, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
June 12th: Study Abroad Ireland, Croi Oige Seminar Rm, 9.30 :11.00a.m.
Aidan Heavey Library, Athlone, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
June 13th: Ballinasloe Library, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.


Danielle Allison:
June13th: Killimor Library, 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
Eyrecourt Library, 11:30 – 12:15 p.m.

Susie Minto:
June 13th: Woodford Library, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

More Festival dates will be posted here soon

2008 Featured Tellers

Liz Weir has worked with all age groups for over thirty years promoting the traditional art for which Ireland is world famous. A children’s librarian by training, she now travels the world telling stories to adults and children, organising workshops on storytelling, and speaking at courses for parents, teachers and librarians. Her wealth of stories is drawn from both the oral and written traditions. She was the first winner of the International Storybridge Award for “exemplary work in promoting storytelling between Ireland and other countries”. She is the director of the Ulster Storytelling Festival and has been a featured teller at major festivals in Ireland, England, Scotland and in the United States.
Danielle Allison comes from a teaching background. She has worked with children in schools all over Ireland, including six-Fridays-in-a-row sessions to help children make their own puppet shows, write their own stories, and live historical adventures in role-playing living storytelling. She has also worked in homework clubs, libraries, festivals, playgroups and even hospitals all over the country. Danielle will prepare special story and art sessions on a requested theme, for example jungle, mermaids and sea life, etc.
Susie Minto has a deep love for stories and their energy. She enjoys telling all kinds of tales - traditional stories and legends from her Scottish roots and from many world cultures, as well as personal anecdotes and spontaneous stories straight from her imagination. Susie is happy working with all ages - from birth to centenarians - and in any setting - outdoors or indoors. She likes to tell stories not least because of the way that they reach into people's lives, open up understanding and create a sense of well-being.

The organizing committee are grateful to the following organizations whose sponsorship made this festival possible: The Arts Council, Ballinasloe Credit Union, Ballinasloe Community Arts Group, Galway County Libraries, Westmeath County Libraries, Study Abroad Ireland, and Tickety Boo Playcentre.