Limavady Festival named Best Small Festival in Ireland for the third straight year.
Stendhal Festival of Art takes its name from a disorder which sees those afflicted fall dizzy at the sight of beautiful works of art, but after being named the Best Small Festival in Ireland for the third year in a row at the Irish Festival Awards, it is the team members behind the Limavady event whose heads are spinning.
This latest award brings the event’s total to five Irish Festival Award gongs in the past 3 years and solidifies Stendhal’s standing as one of the most unmissable summer events in Northern Ireland and indeed the entire Emerald Isle.
Event Director Ross Parkhill said that this latest award proves that the all-encompassing arts extravaganza is hitting all the right notes as it continues to grow and evolve.
“To win an award naming your event the best of its type in the whole of Ireland once is a phenomenal achievement but to hold that title for three years running is beyond anything we could have hoped for when we started out,” he said.
“To everyone who voted for us, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Stendhal is a real labour of love for everyone involved and to see that all our hard work is resonating with people is a real boost and gives us motivation and inspiration to keep up the high standards we have set.
“The 2015 edition of the event was by far the largest production we have undertaken, it took a massive contribution from our amazing team of volunteers to make it a successful event and I hope that everyone involved is as proud as I am of what we have accomplished, because without our team the event simply wouldn’t happen. They are the reason we are winning awards and I can’t thank them enough for everything they have contributed to Stendhal’s continued success.”
Planning for the 2016 edition of the event is well underway and Ross says that anyone who comes along to Ballymully Cottage Farm on August 12 and 13 this year can expect an event befitting the accolades it has received.
“The show is on the road for August,” he said, “we are putting the pieces into place and are determined to put on an event that will have us in the running for a fourth Best Small Festival Award in as many years.
“Our focus on showcasing the finest musical talent while introducing the arts to the region is as strong as ever and we believe that the quality, variety, value for money and atmosphere of the event can help us continue to grow and add to what has become a truly special annual occurrence.
“We are looking forward to making some announcements in the coming weeks and months which will make for another exciting and unmissable weekend in August.”
He added: “A limited run of Early Bird tickets will be available by the end of February so keep an eye on our website and social media channels for that information and any other details.”
