A Beckett Museum of Contemporary Art – focusing on Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde – is the latest idea to come from Sean Doran, Festival Director of the Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival.

Following a second Beckett Festival, Doran tells The Impartial Reporter he is “definitely committed to keeping the festival in Enniskillen”. There may be fringe events held in Paris, but these will seek to attract visitors to the main event in Enniskillen, he states.

American conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth has gifted an art installation to the Beckett Festival and Fermanagh District Council (as joint custodians). This could be the first of many pieces of art gifted by internationally renowned artists, aimed at attracting more tourists to Enniskillen all-year-round.

Famous for his words in neon lights, Kosuth’s pieces reads: “The words too slow, slow, the subject dies before it comes to the verb, words are stopping, too”; an extract from Beckett’s ‘Stories and Texts for Nothing’.

Kosuth “fell in love with Enniskillen” when he was featured in the inaugural festival and returned this year to soak up the atmosphere.

“This is an artist whose status is huge. He is currently working in the German Bundestag (Parliament) in Berlin and La Bibliothèque nationale in Paris. He went straight to Brazil from Enniskillen as he will be involved in the 2016 Brazil Olympics,” Doran explains.

Two other artists have agreed to gift pieces to Enniskillen, if Doran’s latest idea comes to fruition.

The Beckett Museum of Contemporary Art would pose Enniskillen as “an epicentre for literature”, attracting visitoras all year. It would consist of a gallery or studio highlighting Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde as-well-as Yeats (Sligo), John McGahern (Leitrim), Flann O’Brien (Strabane), Brian Friel (Donegal), Patrick Kavanagh (Monaghan) and Seamus Heaney (Londonderry).

Doran adds: “It’s an idea but with all ideas you have to speak them into existence.” He received £380,000 for this year’s production and is currently working to secure future funding.

“I have mentioned it to the Council and to the Executive and there is interest there. The idea would have to undergo a feasibility study and will depend on funding. It needs the institutional bodies behind it,” Doran says.

Fermanagh District Council has agreed in principle to fund the festival for a three year period from 2014. Doran concludes: “The Happy Days Beckett Festival is here to stay in Enniskillen, depending on funding.”