Pigs, Potatoes, Pageantry And Painting In The Ballynahinch Harvest And Country Living Festival

A new painting has been commissioned from Cullybackey artist John R Moore to mark the launch of the new Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival.

[caption id="attachment_51283" align="alignleft" width="390"]Historical re-enactors brought drama and a sense of heritage to the launch of the new Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival. Behind the guns and behind the event are, from left, Deputy Chair, Councillor Des Patterson; Councillor Walter Lyons, Councillor Patrick Toman and Councillor Anne Marie McAleenan. Historical re-enactors will bring drama and a sense of heritage to new Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival. Behind the guns and behind the event are, from left, Deputy Chair, Councillor Dessie Patterson; Councillor Walter Lyons, Councillor Patrick Toman and Councillor Anne Marie McAleenan.[/caption]

John’s ‘Wild Boar at Montalto‘ will be on display at Montalto Estate over the Fall festival weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September. The painting reflects the unique heritage of the new event.

Show Director Albert Titterington of Great Game Fairs of Ireland said: “We’ve taken up the fabulously quirky theme of ‘Pigs, Potatoes and Pageantry’ to create an all-new Festival which will reconnect this bustling market town with its once famous traditional Pig and Potato Markets, its wider rural heritage and of course the famous Battle of Ballynahinch.

“In one amazing weekend we’ll see family fun and a colourful re-enactment of the famous battle plus medieval magic, country sports, pursuits, food and lifestyles … an incredible mix of events and attractions which, quite literally, has something for everyone.

“I was determined to mark the launch of the Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival event by commissioning a new piece of art – but the dilemma lay in identifying an image which would represent such a diverse offering, but a little research gave me the perfect answer!

“When I found out that the superb Montalto estate was linked with Dún Toirc ‘fort of the wild boar’ and that boar and deer once roamed its magnificent acreage, I thought the wild boar image would be visually compelling – and John Moore’s visual interpretation of the concept is nothing short of stunning!”

Wild Boar at Montalto‘ by John R Moore will be on display at the Festival and will feature as the cover of a special edition of the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine available both as a seasonal glossy magazine and a free to read online version at: www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com

The Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival will take place from 10am – 5pm on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September at Montalto Estate..

Admission: £30 for a Double Ticket (admits two people) or £30 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults & up to 4 children).

See www.ballynahinchharvestfestival.com

or view the short promotional video https://vimeo.com/96788960.

The Festival is supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Down District Council and Down Rural Area Partnership.

[caption id="attachment_51962" align="aligncenter" width="540"]A Boar painting by A boar painting by John R Moore set in the Montalto grounds.[/caption]

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