Countdown to first country living festival in Ballynahinch

Countdown to first country living festival in Ballynahinch

24 September 2014

A NEW painting has been commissioned to mark the launch of the new Ballynahinch Harvest and Country Living Festival which takes place this weekend.

Cullybackey artist, John R. Moore’s ‘Wild Boar at Montalto’ will be on display at Montalto Estate over the festival weekend this Saturday and Sunday. The painting reflects the unique heritage of the new event, according to Show Director, Albert Titterington of Great Game Fairs of Ireland.

“We’ve taken up the fabulously quirky theme of Pigs, Potatoes and Pageantry to create an all-new festival which will reconnect this bustling market town with its once famous traditional Pig and Potato Markets, its wider rural heritage and of course the famous Battle of Ballynahinch,” he said.  

“In one amazing weekend we’ll see family fun and a colourful re-enactment of the famous battle plus medieval magic, country sports, pursuits, food and lifestyles — an incredible mix of events and attractions which, quite literally, has something for everyone.

“I was determined to mark the launch of the Ballynahinch Harvest and Country Living Festival event by commissioning a new piece of art — but the dilemma lay in identifying an image which would represent such a diverse offering, but a little research gave me the perfect answer.

“When I found out that the superb Montalto estate was linked with Dún Toirc ‘fort of the wild boar’ and that boar and deer once roamed its magnificent acreage, I thought the wild boar image would be visually compelling — and John Moore’s visual interpretation of the concept is nothing short of stunning.”

Wild Boar at Montalto will be on display at the festival and will feature as the cover of a special edition of the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine available both as a seasonal glossy magazine and a free to read online version at http://www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com/.

The Ballynahinch Harvest and Country Living Festival will take place from 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28, at Montalto Estate. Admission: £30 for a double ticket (admits two people) or £30 for a family ticket (two adults and up to four children). See www.ballynahinchharvestfestival.com or view the short promotional video https://vimeo.com/96788960.

The Festival is supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Down District Council and Down Rural Area Partnership.