Problems Ironing Out Flag Issue in East Belfast

12.00 Problems Ironing Out Flag Issue in East Belfast

Emotions were steaming at the Skainos Centre in East Belfast on Saturday as musicians lined up to perform at this year’s East Belfast Arts Festival ran into problems over a flag.

The flag in question was one of the iconic flags from the world’s most prestigious international festivals, WOMAD (World Of Music Arts & Dance), who have a showcase within the festival 30th August at Skainos.

Trouble began when musicians Kaz Hawkins and Ganesh Kumble ran into problems ironing a WOMAD silk flag.

Kaz Hawkins (performing on 31st August at the Strand) said, “It started out as a good idea for two of us to iron the WOMAD flag as we could get the job done quicker, But they are massive! And I felt I was not being treated equally as they gave me the crap Iron”

Local singer/songwriter Joby Fox (also appearing at the ‘Believe’ event at the festival) who was waiting to use the Iron board for his Onesie said “It was so frustrating for me watching these two knowing that my ironing needed done urgently. Everyone knows you have to Iron this type of fabric when it is damp or you never get the wrinkles out”

Arthur Modern from the Modern Art Gallery also tried to make head of the situation when the incident was finally sorted when musician Robert Stuka (from Gypsy Jazz group ‘Manouche’), stepped in and suggested to just put up the flags at Skainos and let the fresh creative breeze that is present over the East of the City as a result of the upcoming festival iron out the flags naturally.

The WOMAD flags will soon be flying at Skainos as a symbol of the diverse, creative and welcoming people of East Belfast.

The East Belfast Arts Festival runs from 28th Aug - 1st Sept.

www.eastbelfastartsfestival.com

www.womadbelfast.org