Carmel Harrington set to open the Strawberry Fair
IT has been officially confirmed that best-selling author and Screen native Carmel Harrington will officially open the 51st Strawberry Fair, Street Rhythms and Roots Festival in Enniscorthy on June 1.
Short-listed in 2016 and 2017 for the Irish Book Awards, Carmel’s six chart-topping novels have captured the hearts of readers worldwide and have been translated into eight different languages to date. Her much anticipated seventh novel ‘A Thousand Roads Home’ will be published later this year.
Carmel is also a regular panellist on TV3’s Elaine and Midday shows and also features frequently on the WNDU TV network in the US, BBC and many more.
A busy lady indeed, Carmel is the co-founder of the Inspiration Project and the Chairperson of the Wexford Literary Festival and the committee for this year’s Strawberry Fair say that her ‘warmth and wit make her the ideal choice to open the 51st fair’ - the second longest running entertainment event in the country behind the Rose of Tralee.
The festival will host its official launch on Wednesday, May 16, and there will be a firm emphasis on the musical talent on offer at this year’s festival including The Garda Band, the Army Band, Kerry & Nick, The Gentlemen Callers, Remedy Club, JMA, and reggae legend and former band-mate of Bob Marley Natty Wailer.
As well as this the Strawberry Roots Festival will host up to 30 gigs comprising of bluegrass, folk, trad, rock n’ roll and country in 15 different licenced premises around town.
The first big night of the festival will be the Strawberry Ball in The Riverside Park Hotel on May 31 and tickets are now on sale.