GIAF takes New York by Storm with Enda Walsh Shows

Galway International Arts Festival and Enda Walsh, this week wowed New York’s culture scene with two openings of Walsh’s work while Galway adventurer, and solo transatlantic rower, Gavan Hennigan took part in the Festival’s first ever US First Thought Talk.

Belinda McKeon, award-winning author and journalist; Barbara Jones, Consul General of Ireland and adventurer and transatlantic solo rower, Gavan Hennigan pictured at a reception in the Consulate General of Ireland, New York.

Enda Walsh's Arlington and Rooms Open in New York

The 2016 GIAF hit, Arlington, co-produced with Landmark Productions, opened at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn last Sunday to a fantastic reception. Guests in attendance at the opening performances included author John Grisham, actors Nick Sandow from Orange is the New Black, Paul Reid and Lisa Dwan; Irish artist John Gerrard who exhibits during the Festival and whose new solo show opened at the Simon Preston Gallery in New York this week; pianist John O'Conor who flew to New York to support his son Hugh who performs inArlington; poet Paul Muldoon and Consul General of Ireland Barbara Jones as well as many of New York's artistic community including Joe Mellilo from the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and composers Mikel Rouse and Philip Glass. Arlington runs in New York until May 28.

Following hot on the heels of the Arlington opening, and in collaboration with the Irish Arts Center in New York, Enda Walsh’s Rooms, a Galway International Arts Festival production, opened on Monday night at Cybert Tire, the future home of the new IAC, and will also run until May 28.

Galway International Arts Festival Artistic Director Paul Fahy, Irish artist John Gerrard, and President of NUI Galway Dr. James Browne

First Thought Talks with Gavan Hennigan in New York

Earlier in the week, the Festival team were guests of the Irish Consul General, Barbara Jones, where they presented the first ever US First Thought Talk at the Irish Consulate in New York. Adventurer and solo transatlantic rower Gavan Hennigan was in conversation with award-winning author and journalist, Belinda McKeon, during an inspiring and engaging talk which was attended by President of NUI Galway, Dr. James Browne, the cast of Arlington, Irish artist John Gerrard as well as Tourism Ireland representatives, Alison Metcalfe and Ruth Moran.

Galway International Arts Festival CEO John Crumlish speaking at the reception

Speaking at the reception in the Irish Consulate, New York, CEO John Crumlish commented: ‘We’re 40 this year and as part of our birthday celebrations we’re presenting our biggest programme to date with over 200 events in 29 venues in 14 days. Galway is the ship in which we all sail in and which we’re very proud to represent here today.’

Paul Fahy, Artistic Director of Galway International Arts Festival speaking at the reception

Speaking about presenting Enda Walsh’s work in New York, Artistic Director Paul Fahy stated: ‘Collaborations have been at the heart of the Festival since we became a production-led Festival a number of years ago. It’s so exciting to be in this great city celebrating Enda Walsh in New York with our wonderful co-producers Landmark Productions and Anne Clarke on Arlington at St. Ann’s Warehouse, and with the Irish Arts Center on Rooms.’

New Enda Walsh Show

The Festival will once again collaborate with Enda Walsh this July with a world premiere of The Second Violinist a new opera by Donnacha Dennehy and Enda Walsh, a Landmark Productions and Wide Open Opera production. Aaron Monaghan plays The Second Violinist, joined by singers Máire Flavin, Sharon Carty and Benedict Nelson, together with a 16-strong chorus, and Crash Ensemble.

Galway International Arts Festival would like to acknowledge the support of its principal funding agencies - the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland and Festival Partners Ulster Bank, ABSOLUT and NUI Galway. Galway International Arts Festival would also like to acknowledge the support of Culture Ireland for their support of the US premieres of Rooms and Arlington in New York.

This year’s Galway International Arts Festival 2017 runs from 17 to 30 July, with tickets now on sale through www.giaf.ie.