The late playwright Brian Friel
AN international festival has kicked off in the North West celebrating the life and work of the late playwright, Brian Friel.
The five-day festival, which takes place in Derry, Donegal, and Omagh, presents a programme of music, theatre, readings and outdoor events.
This year’s festival celebrates the relationship between Brian Friel and Homer as it is said that each year the playwright would read one or other of the two Homer epics – The Odyssey or The Iliad.
As part of the programme, Fermanagh-born actor/director, Adrian Dunbar will direct a special adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, presented with food and music on five beaches in Donegal.
There will also be performed readings of three plays by Friel, including Making History, in unique locations in Derry, Knockmoyle, near Omagh and in locations in Donegal including Letterkenny, Glenties, Portnoo and Ardara.
FrielFest is part of Arts Over Borders, a new cross-border arts initiative for Ireland.
Brian Friel died on October 2, 2015, aged 86.
Born in Omagh, his family moved to Derry when he was ten-years-old and it became his adopted city where he was educated at St Columb’s College.
Following his death, the father-of-five was laid to rest in Greencastle, Co Donegal.
