The summer festival in Dún Laoghaire promises a varied programme of events over a nine day period.
Invited guests and dignitaries attend a garden party for the launch of the seventh Dún Laoghaire Summer Festival. Those attending enjoy strawberries and cream and glasses of wine to the accompaniment of the No 1 Army Band.
It's a festival that covers almost every angle with talks to tours, concerts, contests and canoeing.
Ships of the French and Dutch navies provide the guard for the port while the scouts and guides provide the guard for the raising of the festival flag.
Like so many similar events around the country the festival work is carried out by a voluntary committee. Committee chairperson John Murnaghan opens the festival. He is delighted to see a year’s preparation coming to fruition.
In the past John Murnaghan found it hard to get the community in involved in the festival as they were unsure whether it would be successful. But the festival has proven itself and,
We’re hoping now that it will build and we will get bigger and bigger over the years.
Leader of Fine Gael Garret FitzGerald gives a speech at the festival launch. He believes Dún Laoghaire has a separate identity to Dublin city.
It’s asserting it by the festival in part and developing a sense of municipal loyalty in Dún Laoghaire itself, I think that’s worthwhile.
He sees the festival as a positive force for tourism and for fostering community spirit in Dún Laoghaire.
Dún Laoghaire Summer Festival runs from 19 – 27 June 1982.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 June 1982.
