West Belfast Festival 2-9 August

Feile an Phobail gets underway next Sunday 2 August in a blaze of colour, craic and culture with the opening day carnival parade. The parade starts at Conway Street at 12 noon and finishes in the Falls Park.

Highlights of the Festival include the ``Into the West'' concert in Beechmount Leisure Centre on 9 August, The Lighthouse opera in St Agnes' Hall on Monday 3 August, and the Festival Marquee at Kennedy Way which plays host to a broad range of entertainers.

Other events are the Feile Folk night in the Whiterock Leisure Centre, community arts showcases and exhibitions.

Following on from the formation of Justus (which co-produced `Binlids') Dubblejoint Productions will be presenting the ``Mother of all the Behans'' starring Eileen Pollack. The play is based on Kathleen Behan and will no doubt be another resounding success for Dubblejoint.

The Springhill Childrens Community Park on Wednesday 5 August will be based around Celtic symbols and culture.

The annual Prisoners Day will take place in Cumann na Meirleach/Felons on Friday 7 August, starting at 11am.

Tar Anall will be working in conjunction with the Felons to provide a day of Activities and events for children and adults under the theme ``Celebration of Resistance.''

Tickets for all events are available from; Teach na Feile, 473 Falls Road, Belfast BT12 6DD Phone Belfast 313440.

Victims of the State


The human rights group ``Relatives For Justice'', who campaign on behalf of victims of British state violence and state sponsored violence, is hosting an event as part of the West Belfast festival.

It is entitled ``Forgotten Victims'' and will be held in St Mary's Training College on Monday, August, 3, at 2pm.

Monsignor Raymond Murray, a member of the group, said ``It will be an emotional event as relatives recount their experiences, but also a supportive one, where relatives can see that they need not be isolated in their quest for justice and truth.''

Any relative of a victim is asked to bring along a photograph and anyone seeking further information about the group or the event should contact Carol Moore at the festival office, Tel; (01232) 313440.

Triple FM Appeal


For the first time the unheard voices of the ordinary person on the streets of Belfast will have a vehicle to `air' and express their views with the launch of Triple FM radio's development plan.

The plan was launched by station co-ordinator, Veronica Campbell, assisted by West Belfast festival director, Caitriona Ruane, chairperson Ciaran Quinn, media consultant Brendan McMahon and Gerry Adams.

In an hour long programme on Wednesday 29 July, the community was urged to write to the radio authority to campaign for a permanent licence.

Triple FM aims, within the next few years, to be a fully self-sufficient radio station broadcasting to the greater Belfast area.

A spokesperson for the station said ``The new political climate requires new structures and institutions and Triple FM has the chance to play a part in helping to create a new society in the north of Ireland.'' And appealed to the community to support the station's application for a license by writing to;

The Radio Authority
14 Great Queen Street
London WC2B 5D9