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News
Edenderry Harbour Millennium Festival
Edenderry is set to mark the millennium this September
by hosting the first ever harbour festival. The festival will run
from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th September and will have events and
entertainment to suit everyone.
The festival is being organised by Edenderry Harbour Development Association
which was successful in obtaining a grant from Offaly County Council's
Millennium Fund. The Association was set up in June 1999 and has gone
from strength to strength. Initially it embarked upon the relandscaping
of the harbour and following from that success it began to install
new seating and lighting along the harbour. These projects benefit
the local community and visitors alike.
The festival will celebrate this new look harbour and aims to bring
people up to the canal and show what a wonderful resource it is to
the town. To really experience the canal, barge trips have been organised
for the weekend which will go down to Downshire Bridge. The majority
of activities are focused on the canal and a barge will be used as
the stage for concerts and talent contests.
The festival will be opened with a switch on off the new harbour lights
followed by a concert by the up and coming band 'INFOCUS'. On the
Saturday there will be a parade from market square to the harbour
which will be led by a 12 piece samba band. The band will be accompanied
by local children who will be trained by the band prior to the parade
and costumes will also be provided. If you would like to take part,
pick up an entry form. A fancy dress competition is also being organised
and participants are encouraged to take part in the parade.
Greeting the parade at the harbour will be street performers from
the famous Belfast Circus School. These performers are regularly seen
in Temple Bar and other major festivals in the country. If you are
interested in sport there are basketball competitions, penalty shoot
outs as well as Tug O'War. If you are not active why not go along
to the Art and crafts exhibition and also learn about the history
of the canal at the Historical Society's display.
There will be entertainment all through the festival with talent competitions
being held on both days and if you enjoy a flutter why not sponsor
a plastic duck in what is sure to be an unforgettable race along the
canal. Each evening will be rounded off by live music at the harbour
by local bands.
So why not come along and see what is on offer and take part in the
many events. Full programmes and entry forms are available from Anne
at Dempsey Travel and Thomas at O'Connell Furniture in Edenderry.
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