First entries for Banbridge Performing Arts Festival

Bernie Scullion, representing the Donard School, returns some of the trophies won by Donard in 2013.

The first entries, of approximately 2,000 entries, for the 2014 event came from Donard Special School in Banbridge.

Donard School make the festival a special event for their pupils and the Festival has a whole morning for them.

The closing date for entries from parents, schools and private teachers is Monday October 6.

The festival takes place in three rooms in the Belmont Hotel (including the Iveagh Suite) and lasts for five days with three sessions going simultaneously from 9.30am to 10.00pm each day.

There will be three professional adjudicators also whose job it is to listen and award the marks and the prizes throughout the 39 sessions.

On the Friday afternoon and night the finals are held including one special award in which the audience votes for the best act...a bit like the X factor!

Further details can be obtained from the Hon Sec. Mrs Patricia Mulligan at 028 406 23748.