Artists from home and abroad are drawn to Carlow for the Éigse Festival.
Founded in 1979, the bilingual Éigse festival celebrates Carlow and its culture, history, landscape and people.
It aims to carry on its business while drawing out in people such command of Irish as they can while enjoying a relaxed and artistic atmosphere.
From 3-12 May 1991, Éigse Carlow welcomes artists from all disciplines, drama, dance, poetry and music. Over the ten days, there are 15 exhibitions and numerous workshops. This year, the festival incorporates a George Bernard Shaw weekend, building on his family connection with Carlow Town.
The aim is to attract visitors, but also to enrich the local cultural diet for Carlow people themselves and to do that through Irish when possible.
Festival founder and committee member Bríde de Róiste believes Éigse has the potential to grow to a national festival akin to those in Kilkenny and Galway.
We think that it has made its mark not alone in Carlow but also in Leinster and we're ready to break it into a national festival at this stage.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 May 1991. The reporter is Michael Ryan.
