This article is from page 6 of the 2012-04-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE announcement last week that Ennistymon will play host to the first ever Dylan Thomas Literary Weekend has already ruffled a few feathers across the water in Wales with one Welsh newspaper suggesting that the poets link to Clare are “tenuous” at best.
The Dylan Thomas tourism “industry” is worth an estimated € 4 million to the economy of Swansea – where Dylan Thomas was born. Welsh tourism expert, Anne Haden, who runs the Dylan Thomas House in Swansea, believes that the Clare festival will not damage the local business in Wales.
“Those who go to this literary festival in County Clare and become fascinated by Dylan will no doubt want to come and see where he was born in Swansea and that can only be good for us,” she said. “What we should be doing is putting trade stands up at the festival to let people know there is plenty going on in Swansea to remember this writer of ours.
“This is a fantastic advert for the life of one of Wales’ greatest exports. We are not only famous for rugby, football and choirs – a short little man from Swansea proved he was a brilliant writer and a great character and became renowned across the world.”
Swansea-based Dylan Thomas expert Jeff Towns says he may even travel to the Falls Hotel for the festival.
“I remember when the hotel was creating a Dylan Thomas room they asked me for some memorabilia which I sent on the grounds I would get a free night there. I never took it so now might be a good time to go,” he said.
“I don’t think the Irish event will harm what’s going on here and in many ways could create some new Dylan fans in Ireland.
“It’s also true Caitlin Thomas had a strong love for Ireland. She was born in London but her father’s links to the Irish arts scene led her to meet Augustus John, then Dylan himself. After Dylan’s death she travelled in Ireland to discover her roots.”