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UST Community Participates in IFest
4/20/2009
 The Houston International Festival spotlights Ireland as the country of honor for the 2009 festival. Ireland is one of the world’s most popular and fastest growing tourist destinations and its influence will infuse the entire festival from the music and main stages to the educational exhibits. The festival features music, dance, attractions, international markets, international food, education and much more!
The festival is held in downtown Houston in Sam Houston Park and surrounding downtown areas on the weekends of April 18-19 and 25-26.
University of St. Thomas English Professor Dr. Janet Lowery and Center for Irish Studies Visiting Professor Aoife Ni Ghloinn will serve as literary curators for this year’s IFest Literary Ireland Exhibit programs and readings.
"One of the themes of the festival this year is the eloquence of the Irish, and there is no better way to illustrate this eloquence than through the poetry and prose of our rich literary tradition," said Professor Aoife Ni Ghloinn.
 Several UST professors, students, members of The Irish Society and the Irish community, as well as Friends of the Center for Irish Studies will participate in literary readings during both April 18-19 and 25 and 26 weekends. For a complete schedule of programs and readings, go to http://www.ifest.org/complete-schedule/.
Readings include works by Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, Brian Friel, Brendan Behan, Eavan Boland, Seamus Heaney, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce and others.
Readers include Prof. Charles Krohn, Sidney Berger, Chris Tennison, Prof. Aoife Ni Ghloinn, Prof. Claire McDonald, Dr. Janet Lowery, Dr. Charlene Dykman, Kathleen Miggins, Susan Gallagher, Fran Povel, Delia Cowles, and several students.
The Center for Irish Studies also will host a booth in the "Ireland Zone.” It is distributing information about the University, the Irish Studies program and vacation planning from Tourism Ireland. Visitors to the booth will receive Tourism Ireland book bags and materials while they last.
"UST's Center for Irish Studies, English, Fine and Performing Arts and Education Departments all have contributed to the Houston International Festival through helping create the curriculum guide distributed to more than 56 school districts in Texas and holding an educational workshop on campus, thanks to Dr. Robert LeBlanc and the Education Department,” said Lori Gallagher, JD, director of University of St. Thomas’ Center for Irish Studies. “But it is the Literary Ireland Exhibit that will be the most visible to festival attendees. We are delighted to have such great interdisciplinary involvement from our faculty, staff and students. It is a great time to celebrate Ireland, its heritage and its culture. Come out and enjoy the festival.”
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