Finnegans, Finns, Fionas, Finnbars, Fintons and Finnualas are set to bring Enniskillen to life this August in a world first that will see ‘Finnish folk’ come together and sing, shout and maybe even dance to the rhythm of James Joyce’s ‘Finnegans Wake’.

Organisers of the Happy Days Beckett Festival are inviting anyone with a love of literature and with the surname or Christian name Finnegan or derivative thereof to take part in there first-ever shared full-length public performance reading of Finnegans Wake.

Taking place from August 1 until August 10 to celebrate Beckett’s friend and mentor James Joyce, the special international project Awake All Finnegans will see each participant read, whisper, shout or sing four pages of Finnegans Wake.

Sean Doran, Director of the Festival, explained: “Samuel Beckett and James Joyce met in Paris and became close friends, collaborating on the latter part of Finnegans Wake and we not only want to celebrate Beckett’s legacy but also pay homage to Joyce.

“James Joyce will be celebrated in a number of special and spectacular ways across the 12 days of the festival, and we invite all Finnegans of the world to take part in a live reading of this great work from beginning to end through the length of the festival. So, if you’re a Finn, you’re in.” The event will run from Friday, August 1, until Sunday, August 10, (1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th only) between the hours of 12pm and 6pm.

The time will be broken down into 15 minute slots and each person will be assigned a slot to read four pages of Finnegans Wake based on their availability.

For being a part of the event (and a part of the Beckett Festival Finnegan Family) you will receive a Finnegans t-shirt and a bookmark.

If you would like to be a part of this event contact ronan@happy-days-enniskillen.com.

For further information visit www.happy-days-enniskillen.com.