This article is from page 66 of the 2008-08-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 66 JPG
SIXMILEBRIDGE has gone inter- national – in the shape of a balloon. A helium balloon which was released GLUT N Toa NACoMM DUE ToM MEK COONMmmCIUIOONDELoIA festival made its way to Italy, while another flew all the way to France, much to the amusement of the organ- isers.
The balloons were among a batch of 500 released into the air during the festival on July 20. Each balloon had
a plastic label attached, with direc- tions to return it to the local Bridge Complex.
While one balloon made its way to Scotland two years ago, no one could have envisaged that any balloon would make its way as far afield as France or Italy this year.
‘About four days after the race we got one back from France. We couldn’t believe it came all the way back from France, then last week another came back from Italy,” explained one of the
festival organisers, Vicky Ward.
“Tt was just so exciting that it went to Italy. In fact the man who sent it back found it the day after the race. We were really excited that it went to Scotland two years ago and now this,” she laughed.
However the identity of the person who bought the balloon at the festi- val for €5 – and who stands to win a Smyth’s toyshop voucher, along with a place in the history of Sixmilebri- dge, no doubt – will not be revealed
until the deadline for the return of the balloons on September 1.
“We are leaving it until September | and we will then look at what balloon went furthest and whoever owns it is the winner. If one went to Italy, there might be another,’ said Ms Ward, with optimism.
This was the third balloon race in Sixmilebridge and given the excite- ment of this year’s event, it undoubt- edly will continue to be a significant part of the festival in the future.