Friday August 15th:

In the evening members of the BBG will meet and greet invited guests who are arriving for the weekend of events. This will take place in Charlotte’s Way and it will be followed with a dinner at 7pm in local hostelry, Flynns. If you wish to join us for dinner, please book with in advance with Flynns 05791 51312

Saturday August 16th:

GALA GARDEN PARTY / BOOK LAUNCH

AT CHARLOTTE’S WAY

STARTING AT 2 P.M.    (Eircode: R42 RY82).

Tickets are €50 and are limited to 100 patrons. Tickets can be booked online through Eventbrite (€54.50 which includes booking fee) or hard copy tickets can be had directly from any of the committee members whose details are the end of this newsletter.

Included in your ticket price is a signed copy of Let Me In: The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar written by Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Parsonage, and Sharon Wright, biographer of Maria Brontë née Branwell, Mother of all the Brontës. The book will be launched by Kay Sheehy, the recently retired RTE Radio 1 producer, presenter and reporter.

Also included in your ticket price is a buffet which will be served in a marquee setting.

As a bar will not be provided, Patrons are asked bring their own drinks and perhaps have a means of labelling them to avoid unnecessary confusion. We will provide glasses and cooling facilities.

There will be live music for the event.

While there is no official dress code for this gala the BBG suggest that you might like to dress in Brontë themed or Victorian attire.

Lets Meet the Authors

Ann Dinsdale:

Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, is an expert on the world-class Brontë collection, appearing on numerous TV and radio programmes, including The One Show, Jonathan Ross’ Myths and Legends and Britain’s Novel Landscapes with Mariella Frostrup. Ann worked with Sally Wainwright and the production team on BBC drama To Walk Invisible. She has written several books and articles on the Brontës, including At Home with the Brontes: The History of Haworth Parsonage & Its Occupants, Bronte Parsonage Museum, Charlotte Bronte: The Lost Manuscripts, In the Footsteps of the Brontës.

Sharon Wright:

Sharon Wright is an award-winning journalist and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling biography of Maria Branwell Brontë. She has written for The Guardian, Daily Express, BBC, Disney, Glamour, Woman & Home, The Lady, Red and New York Post and appeared on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and women’s history podcasts. Research for this book resulted in her winning a correction to the Brontë memorial in Westminster Abbey, which made headlines around the world. She was interviewed by Mishal Husain on BBC Radio 4 Today, plus The Times, The Guardian, The Observer and The New York Times.

Let’s meet Kay Sheehy who will be launching the book.

Kay Sheehy:

Kay Sheehy is best known as Series Producer and regular Presenter of RTE Radio 1’s flagship arts programme Arena.  Recent highlights include a public interview with Brian Cox (Logan Roy of Succession), facilitating a discussion on the pros and cons of poetry between Pulitzer Prize winning Paul Muldoon and Booker Prize winner Anne Enright and producing specials on Druid Theatre’s Sean O’Casey’s Dublin Trilogy and Conor McPhearson’s The Weir. She has also edited Today with Pat Kenny and Saturday with Claire Byrne and covered numerous elections in-between.  Kay has recently left RTE for further adventures in academia.

Lets Meet the Musician

Bríd Gallagher:

Bríd Gallagher is a versatile singer/songwriter hailing from Co. Meath, Ireland. With over 20 years of experience Bríd has performed in Ireland, the UK, and Spain and fronted various cover bands, including Army Dreamers, a Kate Bush Tribute Band. An alumnus of the prestigious BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute), Bríd has an impressive track record in singing competitions at home and abroad including several prestigious awards from the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Currently based in Dublin, Bríd continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of musicality and dramatic flair.

Sunday 17th August

11 a.m. The day will begin with Sunday morning service in St Paul’s at noon or mass in St. Rynagh’s Church.

12.45 p.m. We will make a short visit to the graves of the Bell Nicholls family in St Paul’s Churchyard at the top of the hill in Banagher.

1.30 p.m. Lunch in The Crank Café and Restaurant, Lower Main Street, Banagher. Eircode R42 DE61

2.30 p.m. Showing of Dr Maebh O Regan’s film Prenuptial Politics at the Brontë Parsonage, regarding the marriage settlement of Charlotte Brontë, and Arthur Bell Nicholls featuring an interview with Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Museum in Haworth. This showing will be followed by a Q&A session. This event is in Crank House.

3.30 p.m. Address from Nigel West, founding member of the Brontë Birthplace Thornton group and a descendant of the former occupants of Hill House now known Charlotte’s Way. This event is in Crank House.

4.30 p.m. Boat trip on the Shannon to Meelick Weir and Walkway with Silverlines’ River Queen.

Please book a seat through committee members, details listed below. It is expected that the cost of the boat trip will be €12-15.

7.00 p.m. Corrigans’ Corner Pub for open mic readings and nighttime revelry.

Monday 18th August

All of the events on Monday will be happening in the nearby town of Tullamore in

Offaly History Centre, Bury Quay,

Tullamore (Eircode R35 Y5VO).

11 a.m Music recital by the Banagher Brontë Ensemble

12.00 p.m. A second launch, by James Scully, of LET ME IN: The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar by Ann Dinsdale and Sharon Wright.

12.20 p.m. Sharon Wright will give an illustrated talk on Balloonamania Belles and Daredevil Divas, an entertaining history of early female balloonists and parachutists, a subject matter particularly relevant to Tullamore in view of the great balloon fire there in 1785.

1.10 p.m. Showing of Dr Maebh O Regan’s film Prenuptial Politics at the Brontë Parsonage, regarding the marriage settlement of Charlotte Brontë, and Arthur Bell Nicholls featuring an interview with Ann Dinsdale, Principal Curator of the Brontë Museum in Haworth. This showing will be followed by a Q&A session and should finish by 2 p.m.

See full newsletter HERE