Hay Fever takes hold

Hay Fever has well and truly taken hold in Kells and the jam-packed programme is proving a big hit with young and old.
Thousands of visitors are already in town for this celebration of literature and the arts which features over 70 events and something to suit all ages.
The action started with Millrace Drama Group’s production of ‘Trad’ on Wednesday night, while a talk by Nerys Williams and the launch of the Kells Type Trail were among the highlights yesterday.
There is a lot of excitement today as Jeremy Paxman prepares to talk on Great Britain’s Great War in the Headfort Arms Hotel at 2.30pm and Joseph O’Connor, author of Whitworth prizewinner ‘Cowboys and Indians’ will be in Headfort Arms Hotel, tonight at 7pm.
This will be followed by Meath and the GAA - a talk on its history including a conversation with Sean Boylan, at  8.30pm.
Hamsandwich will perform in concert at Headfort Arms Hotel at 10pm tonight.
The highlights this year include Jung Chang, Louis de Bernières, Donal Ryan, Glenn Patterson, Anne Marie Casey, Gerry Stembridge, John Kelly, Gillian Clarke, Darren Shan, Sarah Webb, Judi Curtin, Paula Leydon, Benjamin Black, Eoin McNamee, Myles Dungan, Sean Rocks, Sinead Gleeson, Ham Sandwich, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Jason Byrne and Sean Boylan.
There will also be a Food Village in the grounds of Eureka School  and many local shops and businesses have entered in to the spirit of the festival and the town is dotted with creative and colourful book-themed window displays.
Car Parks are free all day today, tomorrow car parks are free all day and on street car parking is free from 11am onwards. Parking is free all day on Sunday.
For details of accommodation available in and around Kells, go to http://www.visitingkells.ie/