THERE was a dash of 'Sense and Sensibility' at the opening night of the very successful Literary and Arts Festival held last weekend at Doneraile as a horse drawn carriage made its way to Creagh Castle.

At the festival opening on Friday night, the horse drawn carriage and five pipers set the tone for the evening. Kerryman Billy Keane, a son of the late, great playwright John B, performed the official opening and made presentations to the winners of the Canon Sheehan awards.

Duhallow woman, Mary Angland won the short story award, while the Edmund Spencer poetry award went to Laura McKenna.

From there on, the festival which was being held for the first time in almost 15 years, provided entertainment and enlightenment with poetry, songs and storytelling.

The veteran MC Mattie Lennon got the night going after the official opening with songs and stories, and guest poet Patsy McDermott from Cavan, gave his rendition of ' The Slatted Shed', which has hugely enjoyed by the audience.

The documentary ' My Home Place', which was produced in 1976 by Doneraile native Donnacha Ó Duilaing, was screened and the man himself was there to provide a running commentary on the work and the characters and events it featured.

On Saturday, there was a very enjoyable walk around Doneraile with local historians Cal McCarthy and Seamus Crowley. The beautiful Creagh House was the venue for an interview with Presidential hopeful, Michael D Higgins, who spoke about his love of literature.

Michael D said the festival is testament to the "strength, versatility and importance of creativity within communities."

"They represent the principles of inclusion, participation and creativity, which are, I believe, the key to enhancing our citizenship at home and our reputation abroad," said Mr O'Higgins.

A number of lectures on Elizabeth Bowen and Edmund Spencer was given by the Donnacha Ó Duilaing and Dr Andrew King. The highly respected Kerry poet Garbriel Fitmaurice read various pieces of his work, and local writer Gaye Walsh read from recently published book, 'That's That.' The poet Leanne O'Sullivan and writer Paul Soye also entertained the attendance over the weekend. The excellent 'I Do Not Like Thee Dr Fell,' was performed by the Doneraile Drama Group, Lasra.

Children also got involved as they enjoyed a puppet show and readings by children's authors Pauline Devine and Kieran Mark Crowley at Doneraile Park on Sunday.

One of the highlights of the festival was a performance by The Degani Ensemble at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Diarmuid Hudner, one of the organisers of the festival described the weekend as fantastic and said there was great hospitality shown by the people of Doneraile, along with the staff of the nearby Springfort Hall who had guests staying over.

He said the committee was very proud to have succeeded in putting on a festival that was mostly free to the public.

The plans for next year's festival are bolder and bigger and will include a Canon Sheehan Summer School of 14 workshops covering all aspects of literature and the arts.

"It looks like the Doneraile Literary and Arts festival is back on the map and here to stay," said Mr Hudner.

- MARIA HERLIHY