Westport Get Out of There Adventure Festival

Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival takes place from August 19-22:
The Westport Get Out There Adventure Festival is a new community driven festival supported by Westport Chamber of Commerce, Destination Westport, Gael Force, Mayo County Council , Mayo Sports Partnership, FءS, and Fلilte Ireland. The Westport Adventure Festival will run over four days (Thursday, Aug. 19-Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010).
Award-winning Westport is fast becoming a central point for adventure and outdoor activity. The Westport Adventure Get Out There Festival turns the whole town into a series of adventure points, each featuring a different adventure sport or activity. Many encourage visitors to actually try the sport for themselves, others are demonstrations. The festival includes activities for children, teens and adults, both with and without experience. As the name suggests, it's all about getting out there and trying something new. Examples of adventure activities on offer are Archery, BMX Biking, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Sailing and Street Orienteering.
Festival Highlights:
- The festival will culminate in a family fun day filled with activities supported by local sports clubs and co-ordinated by the Mayo Sports Partnership. All community based organizations will have an opportunity to engage both local and visitor support and encourage trying a new sport and even joining a club. There will be an activity for every member of the family to enjoy.

- Global adventurer Joe Simpson will be the 2010 Festival Ambassador. Simpson's dramatic account of being left for dead after a fall in the Andes was made into the BAFTA winning film "Touching The Void". The film is the most successful documentary in British cinema history and charts Simpson's struggle for survival with a shattered leg, after being cut loose by a fellow climber. It is based on his bestselling book of the same name. A special screening will take place on the opening night of the Festival (Thursday, August 19).

- Seلn McGowan, who last month became the first Irishman to row solo across the Atlantic will receive the inaugural Outstanding Adventure Achievement Award.

- WEE Adventure Film Festival is teaming up with the Westport Adventure Festival to bring adventure films, from both Irish and International filmmakers to Westport. This year features "The Best of the WAFF - 3 years of Adventure" with a programme that includes Q&A sessions with film directors; a judging panel led by Joe Simpson and an audience voting system for the best adventure film.

- The Westport Adventure Festival runs alongside the Gaelforce West Adventure Race (Saturday, August 21), the largest one day adventure race of its kind in the world. It's a complete sellout for 2010 with 3,000 participants racing over the 65km stretch from glorious Glassilaun Beach to the finishing line at the Quay, Westport.

For more information
Contact: Orla O'Malley, Project Manager, Westport Get out There Adventure Festival
Mobile: 086 807 5383 Email: orlaomalley67@gmail.com
Website: www.westportadventurefestival.ie