This is the programme for this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival. To celebrate my 50th birthday we went last year and loved every minute. With any luck we’ll get back this year.

The Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) was established in 1947 in a post-war effort to “provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit” That same year, eight theatrical companies “gatecrashed” the official Festival by organizing their own event, outside the official auspices of the EIF; this started the movement which grew into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (EFF). The EIF and the Fringe remain independent bodies and run separate programmes each year. In more recent years various other annual cultural festivals have been created in Edinburgh, again by separate organizations, though taking place at around the same time in August

Every year thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over Edinburgh to present shows for every taste. From big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers, the festival caters for everyone and includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, musicals, operas, music, exhibitions and events.

 Local performers appearing at the festival this year will include Belfast actor Dan Gordon with his show “The Boat Factory”

The weather over the past few days has been more like November rather than June.

This is Queens University in Belfast take at late evening with a slow shutter speed hence the ghosts.

This is Joy’s Entry in Belfast. Joy’s Entry is a narrow lane with links High Street to Anne Street in Belfast. It takes it’s name from Francis joy who was the founder of the newspaper “The Belfast News Letter” This paper is reputed to be the oldest in the English speaking world and was first printed in a building located in Joy’s Entry. Francis Joy was also the grandfather of Henry Joy McCracken who was executed in 1798 for his part in the insurrection of the United Irishmen.  A plaque at the High Street end of Joy’s Entry has been erected near the site of the house where Henry Joy was born.

Storm clouds gather over Royal Avenue in Belfast today.

I had planned to be out here today in Peatlands Park but my laptop failed and I spent the day trying (with not a lot of success) to get it fixed. Hope to make it out tomorrow.

I was walking up Irish Street in Dungannon today when I spotted this poster for a missing cat. “Dougie” played the part of Mad Paudric’s Cat in our production of “The Lieutenant of Innishmore” at the Craic Theatre a few months back. I hope they find him. If you spot “Dougie” ring the number above.

This is the grave of Mary Ellen Duffy at Drumcoo Municipal Cemetery at the top of the Oaks on the Dungannon Coalisland Road. Mary Ellen Duffy was a member of the famous “Duffy’s Circus” family and was married to John Duffy who was known as “The Irish Barnum” She died on August 12th 1939 while the circus was in Dungannon. She was waked at McKennas a pub on Irish street which is now “McGraths” The following is a brief extract from a booklet called

“Sixty-Seven Years a Showman! A True Life Story of the World Famous JOHN DUFFY THE IRISH BARNUM” 

The year of 1939 was another sad year for me and my family — in the passing of my dear wife at Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, on August 12th where the people of Dungannon and all Ireland sympathised with us in our great loss, the people of the town said the funeral cortege was the largest they had ever seen there, and those at the graveside included Joseph Steward, M.P. for East Tyrone, Mr. Beatty, Town Clerk and many business people of all denominations from the Six Counties were represented as well as show people from the four corners of Ireland.

An interesting detail on the headstone is the horse drawn circus wagon at it’s base.

Duffy’s Circus is in town at the moment setting up in the car park of the Parochial Centre at the bottom of Annagher Hill. Duffy’s have been coming to Coalisland for many many years but their relationship with the locals hasn’t always been a happy one. The following reports are from the Irish Times in 1906.

“Circus Party Attacked: Coalisland, Tuesday. Duffy’s Circus arrived in this town at a late hour on Sunday evening and pitched their tents in a field at Annagher, adjacent to the village. Yesterday about dinner hour, James E. Bradley, a Gaelic Leaguer was crossing close by the circus near a route to his residence, when he was intercepted, it is said, by one of the circusmen, who, it appears, refused to allow him to proceed that way. Some words followed, and an encounter took place. It is alleged that thereupon a number of circusmen maltreated Bradley. The news of the affair rapidly spread through the mills and factories, with the result that about the hour fixed for the performance, fully 500 people had assembled on the surrounding hills, bent on a rigorous boycott. No sooner had a few parties taken their seats in the circus than a fuselage of stones came down upon the canvass, and matters assuming a serious aspect, about nine of the circusmen, armed with revolvers and swords, mounted their horses and kept the crowd at a distance. Shortly afterward the police arrived and several baton charges ensued. Some of the circusmen were injured, and in the melee, Sergeant M’Ehlinney and Constable Bell, Coalisland, and Constable Kelly, Stewartstown, were injured. The crowds kept their ground, the police unable to cope with them. Subsequently, the Rev. S. Brown, C.C. appeared on the scene, and the crown shortly afterward dispersed. . . .  It is stated that Mr. Duffy intends to claim compensation to the extent of £25. . . .”  (The Irish Times, 13 October 1906)

Twenty-five men were charged for the assault on Duffy’s Circus on October 8th at Stewartstown Petty Sessions (The Irish Times, 8 Nov 1906)