Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival 1980

We continue our Reeling in the years segment with the 3rd Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival Poster. This was the year of the birth of the incredible Barry Britton iconic festival posters

BARRY BRITTON, ROSSNOWLAGH – SURF & MUSIC ART EXHIBITION

An accomplished artist & surfer living on the North West coast of Ireland specialising in pen & inks of traditional music, surf & landscapes in his unique Celtic style.

Also known as an architect, interior designer & etcher of glass, Barry is famous among surfers & trad music fans for his annual Intercounty Surf & his annual Ballyshannon Folk Festival posters. The Intercounties has been running since 1968 & the Folk Festival since 1978.

The artist was first approached about ‘doin an oul poster’ for the fledgling Ballyshannon Folk Festival by Anthony Travers. This encounter took place in Sean Og’s Pub where copious amounts of persuasive porter were slid across the wooden bar counter to ensure agreement could be reached ! And so , many decades later, we find Barry still dreaming up new ways to depict folk & trad musicians on these much sought after posters which have become collectors items. Indeed , the poster itself has reached such iconic status that musicians consider it a great honour to be selected as that year’s depicted artist. Many of the posters are on show & for sale at the Local Hands craft studio on Main St. Ballyshannon. The annual exhibition of original works has become a popular event & is a great opportunity to pick up a Barry Britton tinted pen & ink original.