ACCLAIMED Belfast writer Brian Moore and his work are being celebrated across his home city in a festival marking the centenary of his birth.
One of the most prolific authors to come out of Belfast, the three-time Booker nominee wrote more than 20 novels including the iconic `(The Lonely Passions of) Judith Hearne' - later a film starring Maggie Smith and Bob Hoskins.
Lonely Passions: The Brian Moore Centenary Festival began yesterday and runs until August 25 - the centenary of his birth.
Events are being staged across the city and online by Paradosso Theatre, which won funding from the Arts Council to celebrate his work and introduce him to a new generation of literature lovers.
"We are delighted to be able to bring people together in person and online to celebrate one of Belfast and Northern Ireland's most successful writers," said Paradosso Theatre chair Eileen Branagh.
"We hope that people will be reminded of his great work as well as attract a new audience."
Moore's books include, The Emperor Of Ice Cream, The Luck Of Ginger Coffey, The Feast Of Lupercal, I Am Mary Dunne, The Doctor's Wife, and The Colour Of Blood.
Judith Hearne, as it was originally published in 1955, first marked Moore as a major figure in English literature.
Caoileann Curry-Thompson of the Arts Council said it is an "exciting and extremely important festival".
She described Moore as "an exceptional talent, and one who has not had the enduring recognition from his homeplace that he deserves".
"It offers something for all: for devotees of Moore’s work, right through to those who have never encountered him before," she said.
"I can think of no better way to start a relationship with Moore’s radical, beautiful, often testing writing, than through this celebration which enlists such a roll call of Northern Irish artistic talent from street art to theatre, music to film."
Among the events is a walking tour with stops at childhood locations and places that appeared in his novels.
There will also be documentary screenings and showings of films based on his novels.
A series of panels featuring Irish literary greats Colm Toibin, Bernard McLaverty and American novelist and screenwriter, Tara Ison will be held and journalist and academic Joanna Braniff will interview Canadian literary historian Brian Busby about his little-known pulp novels written under a pseudeonym.
The festival will close on the 100th anniversary of Brian Moore's birth with an evening in The American Bar enjoying a pint and extracts from some of his best loved works hosted by actor/writer/comedian Tim McGarry and actors Maggie Cronin, Louise Matthews and Cillian Lenaghan.
More information can be found at https://paradossotheatre.com
