Miriam Allen and Lelia Doolan, based at the Claddagh Palace Cinema, starting on a budget of 'chewing gum and spit', and growing from strength to strength for seven years at that venue, founded the Galway Film Fleadh in 1989. Its distinctive programming and unflinching support for indigenous Irish cinema rapidly ensured high profile, eager audiences and the loyalty of filmmakers nationally and internationally.

　　In contrast to the longer established 'anthology' festivals in Dublin and Cork, the Galway Film Fleadh was big on character and cutting edge, earning reputation and respect and a special position in the film culture and industry. With the closure of the Claddagh Palace Cinema, the founding team handed over the operational reins to a new team of Programmed Director and Festival Manager. This coincided with the opening of the newly refurbished Town Hall Theatre and the establishment of the Galway Omniplex. These provided modern comfortable and technically outstanding venues, which allowed further development of the fleadh, coinciding with the explosion in Irish filmmaking

　　Galway Film Fleadh was thus ideally placed to confirm itself as a key showcase for international films and is now the foremost premiere festival for new Irish features as well as shorts, animation and documentaries.

　　In 1997 eight new Irish features were premiered at the 9th Galway Film Fleadh, including Neil Jordan's The Butcher Boy. Oscar winning director of The English Patient, Anthony Minghella was another special guest, adding to a roll of honor over the years that includes； Maureen O'Hara, Brendan Gleeson, Stephen Frears, Paolo Taviani, Antonia Bird, Gillo Pontecorvo and Rutger Hauer.（Anthony Minghella at the 1998 Fleadh）

　　The 10th Fleadh in 1998 recorded over 18,000 admissions, established an extremely high media profile and ran a programme print run of 8,000. World premieres that year included This Is My Father, starring Aidan Quinn and shot by Declan Quinn. Irish premieres included Central Station, directed by Walter Salles, The Nephew and 2 x 4 by Jimmy Smallhorne. In addition to premieres on screen, the well-established Fleadh Fair offers filmmakers a rare opportunity to meet with international producers, sales agents and distributors - the first ever of its kind in Ireland.

　　The Galway Film Fleadh is a filmmaker's festival with a very special relationship with its audiences, industry professionals and supporters. The intimate relationship in which all coexist is a characteristic of the fleadh and enables it to present adventurous, unique and premiering work in an environment that ensures maximum receptivity. The strength of the box office, the critical acclaim and market interest in the films presented at the Fleadh, are concrete measures of the inherent strengths of the fleadh.

　　The Fleadh has also developed a very significant parallel event in the Galway Film Fair, Ireland's only film market, attracting financiers from America and Europe to interface with Irish producers. .（Mike Dwyer & Brendan Gleeson ）

　　生词表：

　　unflinching  adj. 不畏缩的；决断的

　　indigenous  adj. 固有的；内在的

　　profile  n. 侧面像；轮廓

　　loyalty  n. 忠诚；忠实

　　closure  n. 封闭；结尾

　　rein  v. 驾驶；指引

　　refurbish  v. 重新擦亮；刷新

　　professional  adj. 专业的

　　coexist  v. 同时存在

　　receptivity  n. 感受性；接纳能力

　　inherent  adj. 天生的；固有的

　　financier  n. 资本家；金融业者

　　Comprehension questions：

　　1.When was the Galway Film Fleadh founded？

　　2,In 1997 ,how many new Irish features were premiered at the 9th Galway Film Fleadh？

　　3.Can you tell something about the 10th Galway Film Fleadh in 1998 ？