Mags White O’Kane sent out the news, “Roll up Roll up for a fun filled week of comedy, music, discussions, poetry and workshops at the Imagine Belfast Festival of ideas and politics.” Now it’s happening, tomorrow sees the first event in 7 days of mixture and magic, fun and stimulation.
Mags and her colleagues have been rushing around making last minute checks and during the festival they will be visiting as many of the 125 events as possible, in and out of 50 venues checking that everyone, performers and public, are happy.
This is the eleventh year and it’s bigger and better than ever. She explains, “70% are by open submission, individual community groups and then we approach headliners to give the programme balance so very soon we I’ll be starting to think of 2026!”
She likes to connect with people and hear their opinions, chat and exchange points of view, to this pocket dynamo it’s a joyous thing. And certainly she has put this to good use with Imagine, topics spread across a vast area of interest, political, comical, musical, current events, a play group for adults and an intriguing event on 26th entitled Nothing. A space for people to idle, to linger and to think. That’s the way to do it! Another attraction is the Poetry, Politics and Pubs Tour. Lovely thought, time supping in our famous pubs, “listening to poems about our great city and its political machinations in each venue. Expect laughter lyricism and light hearted recitals” is the promise on the programme. Another walking tour explores the Linen Quarter, heritage history, culture and craic.
“I’ve always had an interest in activism in the arts,” Mags told me. “As far as I’m concerned all arts are political with a small ‘p’. There are very few artists who aren’t motivated by societal and cultural issues and how that comes across whether it’s by comedy or by music although I have to say variety is the spice of life. There are always radical events in the programme alongside improv group activities, discussion groups, poetry, debates, music and walking tours.
Mags began her adventure with Imagine late last October so it’s been head down every since. She follows in the footsteps of Peter O’Neill who founded the festival in 2014 and although he says he’s happy to be in the audience rather than part of the day to day running, Mags hasn’t let him off the hook. “He cares deeply about the festival, he’s still very involved, he will always be a voice in Imagine and I’m glad he approved this years programme!”
As was proved at the launch a couple of weeks ago, Mags has a hearty laugh and a great sense of humour despite rising at 6.40 for the school run. Her son and daughter are teenagers and well used to living in a family of artists, Mag’s sister Shirley-Anne McMillian is Children’s Writing Fellow at Queen’s University, her mum Liz is learning the ukulele and her grandad made fiddles so there was always music and craic on the go. Liz, who was advertising manager in the Ulster Star newspaper for 30 years, says that Mags was always an organiser and could sell snow to Eskimos!
“I learned that from my mum!” Is Mags response!
A Festival of Fun and a Dose of Circus
Enthusiasm Pays Off
She was born in Anaghahilt and went to Friends School Lisburn where she enjoyed the tradition of encouraging literature and the arts and the nurturing atmosphere of cultural diversity with pupils from all over the world.
“ I graduated from Coleraine university then went to Ontario Canada to find work. I discovered the posh Stratford Shakespeare theatre so I walked in, asked for a job and got it! I think they admired my bravery, 20 years of age with no experience and I was suddenly a production assistant. The biggest weapon in your armoury is your personality, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn gets results. I believe in young people but no one is teaching them to believe in themselves, no one’s saying ‘you’re special, you can do that’. She adds: “Social media is great for some of us, connecting with people, get the word out. But it puts young people under pressure. We use it as a tool, they use it as entertainment. My message is – Stop scrolling, start thinking, there’s a lot of comfort and community to be had listening to real people and real things. I believe people in general are good, you’ve only to look around you to see random acts of kindness every day on the streets, it’s actually bred into us to be altruistic whereas people behind social media are there to make money.”
Mags has experienced many working environments as a freelance, a stand- up comedian, a voluntary worker in the community and charity sector, tutoring drama for primary school children and as coordinator for Lisburn’s Island Arts Centre. How does she sum up this latest vibrant venture?
“It’s exciting. Events are always wonderful things but they also throw up a series of problems to be solved and thankfully I’ve alwaysI loved solving problems. One of the main criteria for an events organiser is someone who loves solving problems!”
No problem to Mags, watch out for her around Belfast whirling between Imagine events.
Looking forward to next Friday’s Lyra McKee Symposium in the Crescent Arts Centre run by the Belfast and District National Union of Journalists. We’ll be discussing AI and Journalism – Opportunity or Threat? It’s a fascinating subject although I think rather scary, if it takes over the world we’ll be redundant – nothing to do and no where to go. What then? If you’ve read George Orwell’s novel 1984 you’ll have a good idea of what’s possible, probable and happening already. In Orwell’s book there’s no such thing as honest journalism, all writing passed by Big Brother Terrific book, what an imagination he had.
Some details about the topical gathering on Friday evening.
LYRA McKEE SYMPOSIUM – PART OF THE IMAGINE BELFAST FESTIVAL
On Friday of this week the Belfast and District NUJ will hold a symposium in memory of our colleague Lyra McKee. Part of the Imagine! Belfast Festival the event will be held in the
Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast BT7 1NH
At 7.30 p.m. on Friday 28th March 2025.
The subject under discussion is a topic which fascinated Lyra, Artificial intelligence. In recent years AI has dominated the news agenda and caused an equal amount of positive and negative reflection. But what about journalism and the media in general, an opportunity or a threat?
Speakers include Ciaran O’Connor from the Dublin Institute of Strategic Dialogue, Laura Davison NUJ General Secretary, Jude Copeland Legal Review Manager & Associate (NI) Cleaver Fulton Rankin, Charlie Beckett Journalism AI programme London School of Economics and from the Belfast Metropolitan College media student Stiofan Bruce.
Chaired by Anne Hailes Chair of Belfast and District NUJ
This is a free event. To register please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lyra-mckee-symposium-ai-and-journalism-threats-or-opportunities-tickets-1200513130089
SORRY LIMITED PICS – I HIT A BUTTON AND NOW CAN’T FIND HOW TO DO IT!