`See you in Galway" was a parting cry of many of the guests gathered at the Globe on Tuesday night when the organisers of the Galway Arts Music Festival people came to Dublin to announce their programme. Among those letting their musical talents loose on the city are French dance troupe Cassius, Underworld's Darren Emerson, the Happy Mondays and the musically inventive AfroCelt Sound System. Singer/songwriter David Gray, who's in the midst of a sell-out European tour which brings him to Glastonbury shortly, is also heading down to Galway to take part in the festival. He popped into the Globe for a quick pint before rushing off for an interview on 2FM.
Currently living in London, Gray's fondness of Ireland is well-known and he recently made the anti-commercial and decidedly idealistic move of releasing his latest album in Ireland. Ted Turton, for whom this will be the fourth and last year as the festival's artistic director, is determined that this year will be the most explosive yet. He's particularly looking forward to the Macnas "Cargo de Nuit' parade which will end with a fireworks display by French pyrotechnical paragons Group F led by Christophe Berthonneau.
Paraic Breathnach of Fir Clis Theatre Company, whose play The Site will run during the festival, was there along with Jane Talbot and Owen MacCarthaigh; they plan to take the play on national tour early next year.
Also out on the warm Tuesday evening were Eleanor Shanley, who's playing at the festival, Mike Moloney from 2FM, Philip Gray from Filmbase and casting director Maureen Hughes.