A STATELY National Trust pile on the shores of Strangford Lough in Co Down is the setting for an inaugural festival of art, performance and debate this weekend.
Among those on the line-up of Mount Stewart Conversations, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, are columnists and commentators Fintan O'Toole and David Aaronovitch, Pulitzer prize winning US journalist Anne Applebaum and Tony Blair's former chief of staff Jonathan Powell.
The latter will take to the stage with Fintan O’Toole to ask ‘Can the Kingdom Stay United after Brexit?’
Francis Campbell, the Newry-born former British ambassador to the Holy See, will debate ‘Being a Diplomat: Fact and Fiction?’ while award-winning BBC documentary maker Michael Cockerell will give insights on ‘Diplomats, Diplomacy and Television’ alongside crime-fiction writer and historian, Ruth Dudley Edwards.
Broadcasters William Crawley, Mark Carruthers and Mark Devenport will chair key debates at the event, organised by the National Trust.
Songwriter Iain Archer headlines Saturday night's music, with harpist Ursula Burns performing on Sunday evening; more intimate acts will include a Ugandan dance workshop; music by Anglo-Colombian duo Bitch ’n’ Monk; a Charango and Ukulele workshop and performances by Orchestra des Réfugiés et Amis.
"Mount Stewart is no ordinary country estate. For hundreds of years, this has been Ireland’s secret retreat for royals, leaders of state, influencers and aristocracy," Jon Kerr, National Trust general manager at Mount Stewart said.
"It has been a powerhouse of great thinking, art, music, talks and deliberation, and this energy lives on today. The idea is that we will bring an eclectic range of people together for conversations on a central topic.
"This year we have chosen to focus on Europe, so there will certainly be plenty of topical debates. We are also keen that visitors get really involved in those conversations, so that will be central to the ethos of the weekend."
:: Festival day passes are £30; a weekend pass is £50. Concession discounts are also available. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/conversations
