This article is from page 83 of the 2008-07-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
ENNISTYMON will open up for some good clean fun this week as the town’s Family Festival prepares to take over.
Beginning on Thursday, this year’s festival has been designed to offer something for all tastes, young as well as old.
With dozens of events taking place each day, the festival mixes light- hearted games for young people and adults with some of the very best of local music.
Some of the festival highlight in- clude the bar persons’ race and pub stretcher race on Thursday, the tug of war and teen disco on Friday, Joe Burke Memorial Cup soccer tourna- ment and 5k fun run on Saturday and
the baby rave and donkey derby on SLUICE NE
“We have tried to get something for every element of the community. We tried really hard to get something that would interest ever age group. From all the silly events for adults, to the music that everyone will enjoy and all the events designed for younger people,” said organiser Marian Cliff.
“What is important is to thank ab- solutely everyone who has helped out this year. So many people are offer- ing their time for nothing – like the DJ, the people who are running the workshops and all the stewards.
“Pretty much all of the local busi- nesses have sponsored something di- rectly or they have just handed me a cheque for the festival,” she added.
“That’s what it’s all about – we
are trying to make an event that has something for all the community and the community has really gotten be- hind it.
“We have small collection boxes in all the bars and in the evening the girls behind the bar have been going around and rattling them trying to raise some money. We need all this money to pay for the insurance.”
One of the highlights of the En- nistymon Family Festival is always the live music. This year is no excep- tion with a typically eclectic mix. The likes of the Robot Pilots, the Andy Wilson Band, Kohima, Bush- plant and the Van Diemens will all be taking to the stage.
The youngsters will also get a chance to shine with a youth bands competition on Saturday.
“Thanks to Matthew Griffin we have the gig rig back in the square for this year’s music and Paddy Mulcahy has but together a great line-up of live music,’ continued Marian.
“There are so many people who have gotten involved in the festival or have given sponsored that I would love to thank, but so many people have been generous that it’s just 1m- possible to mention them all.”
For the full line up and times for the weekend’s festivities check locally.