Synge celebration in Ashford

THIS WEEKEND will see a variety events in honour of playwright, poet and writer JM Synge take place in Ashford.

Edmund John Millington Synge (1871–1909) had very strong connections with County Wicklow and, in particular, with Ashford and Glanmore Castle, which was the Synge Ancestral home.

Among the events taking place at Ashford Community and Heritage Centre on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28, will be an exhibition of images associated with Synge, including photographs that he took during his travels around County Wicklow and an iconic display of Sean Keating’s depiction of scenes from the ‘Playboy of the Western World’.

On Saturday at 7.30 p.m., will be ‘Sunshine and the Moon’s Delight’, a dramatic celebration of the works of Synge’s featuring scenes from his plays as well as readings and poetry.

On Sunday, the Ashford Community and Heritage Centre will host the participants in the bi-centenary celebration of Nun’s Cross Church (founded by Francis Synge) and the centenary celebration of Holy Rosary Church.

Not only was Synge a playwright of world renown, he was a folklorist and musician and also a pioneer of photography. On his frequent travels through Ireland he took photographs, especially of rural scenes. He was mainly interested in the people living in the country and the small towns, their work and conditions of life – subjects to be found in his literary work, hence the title of this weekend – ‘ The People of the Glens a Celebration of Synge’.

The exhibition is open both days from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.