Today (Friday) will see the return of the Manning Truthfest to Pembrokeshire, with Irish musicians, actors and activists joining local supporters of the imprisoned whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

In July 2013, Chelsea (born Bradley Manning) was found guilty of 20 charges relating to the release of classified information to the website WikiLeaks and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Chelsea attended Tasker Milward School before joining the US Army, but her mother and several other family members still live in Pembrokeshire.

The weekend events are all about celebrating the truth and raising money for the Private Manning Family Fund, which helps cover the cost of Chelsea’s family going to visit her in Kansas.

They will take place from 8pm at the Shamrock Bar in Fishguard today (Friday, January 23) and at the Labour Club in Haverfordwest on Saturday.

Entrance by donation on the door.

Speaking in a recent interview with Amnesty International, Chelsea said: “Every now and then you do come across a significant choice. Do you really want to find yourself asking whether you could have done more 10-20 years later?

“These are the kind of questions I didn’t want to haunt me.”

Genny Bove of the Manning Family Fund said: “Everyone is invited to join us at this second Truthfest where we will celebrate Chelsea Manning’s integrity and courage.

“This weekend is all about reclaiming truth-telling as a positive act to be celebrated, not a crime to be punished.”