Former hostage to open Scariff Harbour festival

A NATIVE Irish apple tree will be planted tomorrow on the banks of the Scariff river by Belfast author and former hostage Brian Keenan.

The ceremony marks the official opening of the Scariff Harbour festival.

Meanwhile, Scariff-based Irish Seed Savers Association has also donated another apple tree to Waterways Ireland to be planted at the opening of its new headquarters at Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

“This gesture is symbolic of the festival’s commitment to developing links with Northern Ireland through the inland navigable waterways,” said festival committee chairman Mike Rodgers.

“The idea is that when the apples fall into the water the seeds will be carried to other locations along the waterways perhaps setting root along the way.”

Since the Scariff Harbour festival began in 2003, the nurturing of north/south relationships has been central to its ethos.

The presence of Mr Keenan as guest of honour follows the many well-known names who have come to Scariff over the years — including Mark Durkin, the late David Ervine and the deputy first minister of the Northern Ireland executive, Martin McGuinness.

Mr Keenan was catapulted onto the world stage in the 1980s when he was taken hostage by Shi’te militiamen four months after taking up a teaching post at the American University in Beirut.

An Evil Cradling, Mr Keenan’s account of his almost five-year captivity, provided an incredible insight into the capacity of the human mind and spirit to endure and survive.

Mr Keenan will read from his eagerly awaited memoir with the working title of I’ll tell me Ma at Scariff Library at 3pm on Saturday.

Following a commitment she made at last year’s festival, Jeannette Ervine — widow of David Ervine — will return to Scariff at the weekend with a group of young anglers from different northern backgrounds.

Members of the Belfast charity, Anglers First, will compete with young anglers from the south for the David Ervine Perpetual Trophy.

“This is a wonderful north/south linkage that began last year when Ms Ervine came to Scariff and is now set to develop into something really positive,” said festival committee member Harry O’Meara.